Minister: Over MVR 60M wasted on 16 stalled MDP-era health projects

Health Minister Geela Ali told the Parliament on Monday that none of the projects awarded during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration to develop health facilities in the atolls made any progress, resulting in the wastage of over MVR 60 million in state funds.

Geela, who was summoned to the Parliament in the morning, was questioned by Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef, a lawmaker from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), regarding a project awarded during Solih’s administration to construct a new building for the health center in Kelaa.

Geela responded that the contractor was paid an advance by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, but failed to make any progress on the project.

She said that the government will be terminating the contract once legal formalities were done.

She added that the project has been awarded to a new contractor, which has started work.

“Honorable MP, as you have mentioned, we have been forced to terminate many such health sector projects. Over MVR 60 million has been wasted on such contracts,” she said.

Responding to a question by Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Naseer, also from the PNC, Geela said that many of the contractors awarded government projects and paid advances by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration failed to carry out any practical work.

“16 such projects have now been terminated,” she said.

Geela said the government was engaged in efforts to recover the advance payments, but stressed that it entailed a lengthy legal process.