Bangladesh, Maldives seek deeper cooperation in medical, dental education and healthcare capacity building

A high-level bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and the Maldives was held with the objective of strengthening strategic cooperation in higher education, particularly in medical and dental education, and advancing long-term healthcare capacity building. 

The Maldivian side was represented by the Ministers for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development of the Republic of Maldives Ali Haidar Ahmed and Abdul Raheem Hasan, along with senior officials and technical experts from the relevant ministries, underscoring the high priority attached to the discussions.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong, friendly, and brotherly relations shared by the two countries, said a press release.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives Nazmul Islam, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and representatives of the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA).

The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in medical and dental education, expanding opportunities for Maldivian students to pursue MBBS, BDS, and allied health programmes in Bangladesh, and jointly addressing the Maldives' growing demand for skilled and specialised healthcare professionals.

The Bangladesh side highlighted the quality, affordability, and global recognition of its medical education system. It was noted that Bangladesh currently has 112 medical colleges, offering more than 11,000 medical seats, with private medical institutions authorised to allocate up to 45% of seats for foreign students, thereby creating substantial opportunities for Maldivian applicants.

A key feature of the discussions was Bangladesh's facilitative policy towards Maldivian medical graduates, under which they are exempt from additional examinations to undertake internships in the Maldives. 

This was highlighted as a reflection of Bangladesh's confidence in its medical education standards and its goodwill in strengthening bilateral cooperation. 

Bangladesh also offers seven fully funded government scholarships for Maldivian students, including six MBBS scholarships and one dental scholarship.

The Bangladesh delegation further outlined structured internship opportunities and shared plans to introduce six-month to one-year rural clinic and hospital internship programmes, which would provide valuable community-based healthcare exposure for Maldivian students. 

At present, 65 Maldivian medical interns are undergoing training in Bangladesh, with over 80 internship visas issued this year.

The Maldivian side welcomed the continued cooperation and emphasised the country's increasing need for specialist doctors and nurses. 

It was noted that expanded medical education pathways in Bangladesh would significantly strengthen the Maldives' healthcare system while further deepening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further enhance collaboration in medical education, higher education, and human resource development, reinforcing the enduring partnership between Bangladesh and the Maldives and contributing to sustainable development in both countries.