Dr. Hassan Shafeeq is a Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine with over 30 years of clinical experience in the United States and the Maldives. He holds an MBBS from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, an MPH in Clinical Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, and an MD in Internal Medicine from Mount Sinai School of Medicine/New York University. His career has included appointments at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, University of California, Davis Medical Center, and St. Mary’s Hospital, Arizona, where he specialized in hospital medicine, chronic disease management, and preventive care. Between 2015 and 2025, he maintained a private practice focused on preventive medicine, health screening, and healthy aging. He currently serves as a Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at the Male’ City Group of Hospitals, including IGMH, while also working as a Visiting Hospitalist at Northwest Medical Center, Arizona. His interests include preventive medicine, clinical epidemiology, cardiovascular risk reduction, healthcare quality improvement, and medical education.

Dr. Hassan Shafeeq, MBBS, MD, MPH
Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine
The Maldives faces a growing burden of cancer and vaccine-preventable diseases, highlighting the need for a stronger preventive healthcare system integrated into Primary Health Care. Establishing a national cancer screening program can enable early detection of common cancers such as breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer, improving survival and reducing healthcare costs. At the same time, expanding adult immunization can prevent serious illnesses including influenza, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis B, HPV-related cancers, shingles, and COVID-19. A standardized, evidence-based national protocol is essential to ensure equitable access and consistent implementation across all islands. Strengthening public awareness, healthcare workforce training, and digital health registries will improve participation and follow-up. Integrating screening and vaccination services into primary healthcare can enhance efficiency and accessibility. Through a coordinated national strategy, the Maldives can reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, improve population health outcomes, and build a more sustainable healthcare system for future generations.