An agreement has been signed to establish a specialized oncology diagnostic centre in Hulhumalé, aimed at expanding cancer diagnosis and treatment services in the Maldives.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between Hulhumalé Hospital, operated under the Male' City Group of Hospitals; Quantum Heights Limited, a company from the United Kingdom; and N Vascular Technology Private Limited of India.

The signing ceremony was held yesterday at Dharumavantha Hospital and was attended by senior officials from the President's Office, the Ministry of Health, relevant government institutions, and representatives from across the healthcare sector.

The project is part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's vision to improve the quality of healthcare services in the Maldives and reduce the need for patients to travel overseas for cancer treatment.

The new centre in Hulhumalé will provide emergency services, intensive care facilities, inpatient wards, operating theatres, and chemotherapy services.

It will also offer advanced cancer treatment technologies, including three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), brachytherapy, and CT simulation. The centre will additionally provide technical support for cancer surgeries.

Plans also include introducing advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, such as nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), in phases.

To strengthen the overall cancer care system, the project will incorporate palliative care, multidisciplinary tumour boards to support treatment planning, and systems for long-term patient monitoring.

The center will be designed with specialised infrastructure for radiation therapy and will comply with the highest standards of mechanical and electrical safety.

The three-year project is scheduled to begin in 2026, with construction and commissioning targeted for completion by the end of December 2028.

During this period, the project will involve construction of the facility, installation of medical equipment, training of healthcare professionals, and operational commissioning to prepare the center to begin providing services.