Introduction

Maldives does not have Nurse anaesthetists. Anaesthesia is provided by consultant anaesthetists. They provide pre op assessment, intra operative management and post-operative analgesia. They are also providing care/ managing patients admitted to Intensive care units and attend critically ill patients in wards and emergency department when called upon. We are also involved in teaching for the nurses and interns. Recently with introduction of MRI and interventional cardiology and bronchoscopy services, provision of anaesthesia has expanded to outside operation theaters.

The capital has one government tertiary referral hospital and four private hospitals with approximately 20 anaesthetists. (the number varies from 15 – 25) providing services. Out of these we have only 6 Maldivian anaesthetists. The rest are consultants from various nationalities on contract basis, mainly from Egypt, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The rest of the population is served by 5 regional hospitals and 10 atoll hospitals. They have approximately 20 anaesthetists working currently under Ministry of Health serving these hospitals.

There were 3 private hospitals in the capital area providing anaesthesia services with about 10 operating theatres with one facility providing Neurosurgery services and cardiothoracic surgery facilities. 

In the remaining regional and atoll hospitals under the ministry of health, one or two anaesthetists per hospital provide anaesthesia for obstetric services and limited general surgical / orthopedics surgeries.

Approximately 5000-7000 cases are done per year in Maldives under anaesthesia