Maldives plans to establish first domestic autopsy facility

MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives is moving to establish its first-ever facility for conducting forensic autopsies, ending decades of dependence on foreign countries to examine bodies in suspicious deaths and criminal investigations.

The announcement marks a significant development for the Indian Ocean island nation, which has never had the capacity to perform post-mortem examinations despite passing legislation authorizing the practice in 2015. As a result, authorities have been forced to send bodies abroad whenever forensic autopsies were required.

Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali said work has begun on creating the country’s first forensic pathology unit after a lawmaker questioned why such a service remained unavailable more than a decade after the legal framework was introduced.

The facility, to be established under the Male’ City Group of Hospitals, will provide forensic autopsies, clinical forensic examinations and medico-legal services for the entire country.

Officials said the center will investigate deaths requiring legal scrutiny, including suspected crimes and other cases where the cause of death must be established through forensic examination. 

It will also provide medical assessments for victims of sexual and physical assault, evaluate injuries sustained by people in state custody, and document injuries for court proceedings and insurance claims.

Before the service becomes operational, the government plans to finalize regulations governing forensic pathology and publish them in the official gazette. Authorities say the framework is intended to ensure professional standards and public confidence in the country’s first institutionalized autopsy service.

The absence of domestic forensic capabilities has long posed challenges for law enforcement and the justice system. According to government figures, 23 bodies have been sent overseas for post-mortem examinations over the past decade, with each examination costing roughly $3,570, excluding transportation and other related expenses.

The new facility is expected to reduce both the financial burden and the time required for forensic investigations while allowing authorities to conduct sensitive death inquiries within the country for the first time.