President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited the National Thalassemia Centre in Malé on Sunday morning after patients and parents protested over the failure to address longstanding concerns.

The protest on Saturday night followed a raucous meeting with health officials in charge of the Maldives Blood Service, whose negligence was blamed for having to discard blood packets without full transfusions due to faulty filters in recent weeks. 

“I was unaware that the situation was like this and that there had not been any progress whatsoever even when it came to this point,” President Muizzu told state media after the visit. “When I looked today, it was clear from the documents that those involved with this thalassemia issue had met with various government officials. But no practical action had been taken.” 

He acknowledged shortcomings at the centre, including the lack of a director general since 2017, the absence of a senior physician, inadequate equipment, and the shortage of nurses and laboratory technicians. 

Following the visit, during which he spoke with thalassemia patients and examined conditions at the centre, the president said he has issued instructions on “immediately” resolving the problems and facilitating the human resources needed to operate the Thalassemia centre like a hospital. 

"I will personally ensure that no issue remains unresolved due to financial constraints," he assured, after Finance Minister Moosa Zameer was included in meetings with the centre’s management and senior health officials. 

But some thalassemia patients suggested that the president could not have properly assessed the situation during a daytime visit as only children under 12 undergo blood transfusions in the morning during Ramadan. Adults who receive treatment at night could better explain their concerns, some patients told Raajje TV. 

Adhadhu dug up Muizzu's campaign pledges to improve services and questioned his remarks pleading ignorance.

Later on Sunday, the president also visited the new thalassemia centre under construction in Hulhumalé to inspect progress.

The Maldives has one of the world’s highest prevalence of beta thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that leads to anaemia and requires life-long treatment and blood transfusions. There are about 650 active thalassemia patients in the country, according to state media.