Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali has stated that 60 percent of doctors working in the Maldivian health service are foreigners.

The Minister made these remarks in response to a question asked by PNC MP for the Machangolhi Central constituency, Ahmed Zameer, regarding ongoing efforts to expand opportunities for Maldivians and reduce foreign labor in a healthcare sector currently reliant on many expatriate workers.

The Minister noted that because health services are delivered alongside a significant foreign workforce, substantial administrative work is required when doctors leave the service or resign for various reasons.

"Looking at health sector statistics for 2025, figures show that over 12,000 people are employed in the service, over 7,000 in the atolls and over 5,000 in Malé. Among them, the foreign workforce includes over 3,400 foreign doctors," the Minister said.

The Minister expressed hope that healthcare will eventually be delivered by a larger proportion of Maldivians.

She noted that training is currently being provided at the Maldives National University to support this goal, encouraging more Maldivians to apply for these medical courses.