MONITORING REPORT
Unfortunately, there was a group of evil actors (individuals, companies, and the government) at large with vested interests, despite the fact that the majority of the Maldives medical community fought diligently and heroically to protect and care for people afflicted throughout the coronavirus epidemic in 2020 and beyond.
They profited greatly from the dismal health conditions, endangering public health and disregarding medical ethics. They endangered many thousand individuals due to their conduct and avarice.
A facility run by ADK Hospital and supported by Sonu Shivdasani has come under fire for allegedly producing phony negative test results, leading some to believe that people infected with COVID-19 were labeled negative and permitted to visit resorts and other tourist attractions.
There were serious financial losses and possible health hazards for guests due to this alleged neglect, which allowed the virus to spread throughout well-known resorts including Anantara Kihavah and OBLU Sangeli.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the Maldives was charged with concealing lab-related problems and neglecting to respond appropriately in spite of numerous complaints. The accuracy of the lab’s testing methods and the possible health dangers connected to false negative results were alleged to be issues that the HPA failed to address sufficiently.
It came out that the lab was a corporate enterprise with profit as its primary goal, even though it was first presented as a kind donation. Due to the huge volume of tourists, the lab was anticipated to generate a substantial daily income of MVR 2-3 million, even at the exorbitant charge of USD $130 for each test. This sparked concerns about putting monetary gain ahead of maintaining the testing procedure’s accuracy and dependability.
The man who founded and established the lab, Sonu Shivdasani, was charged with abusing his political power by giving ruling party members financial support.
This possible impact sparked worries that, despite the accusations and complaints, government organizations like the HPA would be prevented from pursuing enforcement action against the lab.
The credibility and dependability of the PCR testing carried out at the lab, as well as the openness and responsibility of the parties concerned, were all seriously questioned in light of these charges taken together. In fact, the accusations made against the HPA raised the possibility that the organization was under duress or influence to defend the rights of the Maldivian PCR testing lab.
It was confirmed on March 7, 2020, that the Covid-19 pandemic had reached the Maldives. Five days afterward, the entire nation was under a state of public health emergency.
According to Bloomberg, after then, the number of positive tests for the severed acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) climbed every day, reaching a peak in May 2021 with the largest number of infections per million individuals worldwide.
A laboratory was established in July 2020 at the Maafaru International Airport in the Maldives to do Covid-19 testing on members of the general public using PCR tests, which are a quick and highly accurate method of diagnosing some viral disorders, including coronavirus.
But in the end, the lab was really only in it for the money. a substantial sum of money. Rather than being the charitable endeavor it claimed to be and supported by a tycoon who cared about the welfare of his community, its operations and pricing were much more in line with a “quick buck” money-making venture that quickly and fully exploited the confused and frantic state brought on by the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic.
Situated at the Maafaru International Airport in the Maldives, the lab benefited from the public health regulations mandating that travelers get tested for COVID-19 before leaving the nation. The airport is flanked by numerous resorts.
With tests costing USD $130 each, simple math demonstrates the enormous profits the lab was generating. Indeed, it has been stated that the lab produced enough money in just one week to reimburse Shivdasani for the whole sum of his estimated donation of $75,000 USD.
