A high-level bilateral meeting was held between Bangladesh and Maldives with the aim of strengthening medical education, skilled manpower development in the health sector and long-term capacity building. Both sides stated that the meeting is a reflection of further strengthening the existing friendly relations between the two brotherly countries.
The meeting was attended by the Ministers of State for Health of the Government of Maldives Aminath Shirna and Khadija Abdul Samad Abdullah, President of the Maldives Medical Council Dr. Ali Shahid Mohamed and Registrar Mohamed Shafi A. Munim. Senior officials and technical representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Maldives also participated in the meeting.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam. He was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and representatives of the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA). The delegation also included Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain, Director General (DGME); Miss Mallika Khatun, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Professor Dr. Md. Moazzem Hossain, Secretary General, BPMC and other distinguished members.
The meeting, held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, emphasized expanding opportunities for Maldivian students in higher education in health including medical and dental education, MBBS and BDS, and strengthening mutual cooperation to meet the growing manpower needs of the Maldives’ health sector.
The Bangladesh side highlighted the quality of medical education and its international recognition, stating that currently there are 112 medical colleges in Bangladesh—37 of which are government and 58 private—with a total of 11,101 seats. Private medical colleges have the option of reserving up to 45 percent of the total seats for foreign students, which creates significant opportunities for Maldivian students.
The meeting was also informed that Maldivian medical graduates studying in Bangladesh do not have to appear for any additional exams to complete their internship in the Maldives, which is an important sign of goodwill and trust from the Bangladesh government. In addition, while internship opportunities after MBBS are not available in many countries, they exist in Bangladesh.
As part of future plans, preparations were also announced to launch rural clinic and hospital-based internship programs in Bangladesh for a period of 6 months to 1 year, which will be helpful for island-based Maldivian students to gain practical experience.
This year, 65 Maldivian medical interns are undergoing training in Bangladesh and 83 visas have already been issued. In 2024, the number of Maldivian interns in Bangladesh was more than 100.
The meeting also noted that the cultural, religious and social similarities between Bangladesh and Maldives help Maldivian students to adapt easily in Bangladesh. It was also informed about the plan to introduce MRCS examination in Bangladesh from next year, which will create new possibilities in postgraduate medical education.
The State Minister of Health of Maldives welcomed the ongoing cooperation with Bangladesh and said that the demand for specialist doctors and nurses for Maldives is increasing. Pursuing medical education in Bangladesh will play an important role in strengthening the health sector of Maldives.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to further strengthen cooperation in medical education, health training and human resource development, which will take Bangladesh-Maldives friendly relations to new heights and contribute to sustainable health development of both countries.
