UN Expert Calls for Expanded Mental Health and Migrant Care Reforms in Maldives

“The Maldives’ achievements in establishing a universal healthcare system, relying on modern science and medicine should be safeguarded,” Mofokeng said.

The Maldives' universal healthcare system has been hailed by a United Nations expert as a major achievement in advancing the right to health, with praise for the country's commitment to affordable and accessible healthcare rooted in modern science and medicine.

Speaking at the conclusion of an official visit to the island nation, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, commended the Maldives for establishing a healthcare model that has significantly expanded access to medical services for Maldivian nationals while also emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to address emerging health challenges.

"The Maldives' achievements in establishing a universal healthcare system, relying on modern science and medicine should be safeguarded," Mofokeng said.

Her remarks come as the Maldives faces growing pressure on its healthcare infrastructure from rising non-communicable diseases, increasing mental health demands, pharmaceutical supply challenges, and the healthcare needs of a large migrant worker population.

Maldives' Universal Healthcare Model Draws International Recognition

The Maldives, a geographically dispersed archipelago of nearly 1,200 islands, has long faced unique logistical and economic challenges in delivering healthcare services across remote communities.

Despite these difficulties, the country has developed one of South Asia's most ambitious universal healthcare frameworks, providing broad public access to medical services through state-supported healthcare programs.

The UN expert noted that the system represents a critical step toward fulfilling international obligations related to the right to health and social protection.

Healthcare analysts say the Maldives' approach has contributed to major improvements in life expectancy, maternal healthcare, immunization coverage, and access to primary care over the past two decades.

However, officials and public health experts warn that demographic changes, urbanization, and lifestyle-related illnesses are now reshaping the country's healthcare priorities.

Migrant Workers' Health Identified as Major Policy Challenge

A central focus of the UN expert's assessment was the wellbeing of migrant workers, who make up a substantial portion of the Maldives' labor force, particularly in construction, tourism, and domestic work sectors.

Viewed as essential contributors to Maldivian society and economic development, migrant communities often face vulnerabilities linked to overcrowded housing, limited healthcare access, financial insecurity, and occupational risks.

"A high number of migrant workers demands a focus on improving equitable access to health services, reducing vulnerabilities, and strengthening service delivery," Mofokeng said.

Human rights groups and labor advocates have repeatedly called for stronger healthcare protections for migrant workers across the Gulf and South Asian regions, where foreign labor populations often encounter barriers to healthcare access and social protections.

The UN expert urged Maldivian authorities to adopt stronger monitoring systems and coordinated inter-ministerial policies addressing migrant welfare, healthcare access, housing, food security, and demographic planning.

Mental Health Services Require Urgent Expansion

Mofokeng highlighted mental healthcare as one of the Maldives' most pressing emerging challenges, emphasizing the urgent need to expand access to mental health services and trained professionals.

She called for increased availability of essential medicines for mental health treatment, along with broader access to psychiatric care, counseling services, palliative care, and comprehensive harm reduction programs.

The Special Rapporteur also stressed the need to significantly increase the number of mental health practitioners, psychiatric nurses, and trained primary healthcare doctors throughout the country.

Public health experts have increasingly warned that mental health pressures in small island developing states are being exacerbated by economic uncertainty, climate vulnerability, social isolation, and limited specialist care infrastructure.

The Maldives has seen rising awareness surrounding depression, anxiety, addiction, and youth mental health concerns in recent years, though healthcare providers continue to face shortages in trained personnel and support systems.

Non-Communicable Diseases Now Leading Cause of Death

The UN expert noted that the Maldives is undergoing a major epidemiological transition, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) overtaking infectious diseases as the leading cause of death and disability.

Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses now represent the country's primary health burden — reflecting broader global trends linked to urbanization, changing diets, sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, and ageing populations.

The growing prevalence of NCDs has placed additional strain on healthcare systems already facing supply-chain disruptions and rising treatment costs.

"In the wake of challenges related to health commodities and medical supplies, the joint committee formed by the State Trading Organisation and key actors to address pharmaceutical issues is a good initiative," Mofokeng said.

She also emphasized the importance of including civil society organizations in health policy discussions and pharmaceutical governance.

"Civil society representatives are crucial partners and should have a seat at the table," she added.

Call for Stronger Sexual and Reproductive Health Protections

The UN Special Rapporteur further stressed the need to ensure access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights, services, information, and medical commodities.

Global health organizations have increasingly emphasized that reproductive healthcare access remains central to broader public health outcomes, gender equality, and poverty reduction strategies.

Advocates say improved reproductive healthcare infrastructure is particularly important in geographically dispersed nations like the Maldives, where access disparities can emerge between urban centers and remote island communities.

UN Expert Urges Long-Term Health Strategy and Resilience Planning

Mofokeng concluded her visit by calling for a long-term, multisectoral healthcare strategy focused on resilience, prevention, and adaptability to evolving public health challenges.

She urged the government to strengthen coordination across ministries dealing with healthcare, migration, housing, ageing, food security, and social protection to ensure sustainable health system development.

"By uniting behind a coherent long-term shared vision, multisectoral governance and investing in primary-care focused on emerging needs such as non-communicable diseases, the Maldives can ensure future health system security and resilience," she said.

The UN expert added that the country now has an opportunity to build upon its universal healthcare achievements and position itself as a regional example of equitable, science-based public health governance.

As small island nations worldwide confront mounting healthcare pressures linked to economic volatility, migration, ageing populations, and climate change, the Maldives' evolving healthcare model is likely to draw increasing international attention in the years ahead.