The Republic of Maldives convened its first Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum from 13–14 December, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Health Organization Maldives, bringing together policymakers, health professionals, development partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector, with more than 25 global experts joining the Forum. The Forum also featured country experience sharing from Australia, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, enriching national discussions with regional and global perspectives. As a small island developing state with a widely dispersed population, the Maldives recognizes UHC not only as a policy objective, but as a national priority grounded in human resources and equity.
With 1,192 islands spread across a vast ocean territory, geography continues to shape access to health services. While the country has achieved strong health outcomes, including free public health care through the national insurance scheme and major gains in maternal and child health, noncommunicable diseases; demographic transitions, workforce gaps, climate vulnerability, and rising health expenditure increasingly strains the health system. Ensuring that quality care reached every island without financial hardship remains central to the Maldives’ UHC agenda.
The UHC Forum provided a platform for evidence-based dialogue and knowledge exchange, supporting the development of a clear and forward-looking pathway toward Universal Health Coverage. Discussions focused on strengthening primary health care, improving integration across levels of care, advancing digital health systems, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of health financing, and building resilient and climate-smart health services. Drawing on global experience and regional best practices, the Forum translated lessons into practical solutions tailored to the country context.
A central outcome of the Forum was its contribution to the development of the Maldives UHC Strategic Roadmap for 2026–2030, through the formulation of strategic recommendations to strengthen Universal Health Coverage for the people of Maldives. Through inclusive consultations and technical discussions, the Forum identified priority reforms, investment needs, and actionable solutions that will inform the Roadmap and be integrated into the Health Master Plan (HMP) and the National Development Plan (NDP). This approach ensures alignment between policy ambition, implementation capacity, and long-term national development objectives.
“It was an honor for WHO to support the Republic of Maldives in hosting its first Universal Health Coverage Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Asian Development Bank.” said Ms Payden, WHO Representative, “This Forum demonstrated the strong national commitment to advancing equitable, resilient, and people-centered health systems, and highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors and with global experts to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage.”
The Forum also placed strong emphasis on partnerships and resource mobilization. A dedicated session engaged development partners, donors, and investors to explore opportunities for collaboration across priority areas such as digital health, health security, noncommunicable disease prevention, workforce development, and resilient infrastructure. By fostering coordinated action and shared accountability, the Maldives advanced a collective approach to ensuring that investments delivered measurable impact across all atolls.
The Maldives Universal Health Coverage Forum 2025 marked a significant milestone in the country’s health journey. It reinforced a commitment to people-centered care, innovation, and equity, and affirmed the principle that geography should never determine access to health. The Forum will help lay the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive health system; one designed to reach every island and every community.