India Donates Portable Hospitals to Maldives in Major Health Boost

India has handed over two advanced portable hospital units to the Maldives, a move that strengthens the country’s emergency health response and reflects deepening ties between the two nations.

The delivery took place during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent two-day visit to Malé, at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Public health infrastructure was a key focus during the visit, with these mobile medical platforms seen as a major addition to the Maldives’ healthcare capabilities.
Called Arogya Maitri Health Cubes, these modular hospitals are the first of their kind in the world. Each unit includes an ICU, operating theatre, diagnostic equipment, X-ray machine, power supply, and can treat up to 200 people within a 72-hour period.

The cubes are designed for maximum flexibility. They can be airlifted or dropped by parachute into hard-to-reach locations and can be fully set up and operational in just 12 minutes. Additional kits and supplies allow them to adapt to different types of emergencies.
The BHISHM app, a dedicated digital tool, will support the use of these units by tracking equipment and managing setup.
The Maldives Emergency Medical Service, under the Ministry of Health, will oversee how these units are used going forward.

India has long supported Maldives’ health sector, from training medical staff to improving hospitals and providing emergency supplies, including vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic. These latest additions further reinforce that partnership with real, life-saving impact.