Ten Semester 5 Primary Health Care (PHC) students from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), The Maldives National University (MNU), completed a supervised Management of Diseases Practicum at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) from 9 February to 26 March 2026. The clinical posting provided students with practical experience in the assessment and management of patients with acute and chronic diseases within a tertiary hospital setting.

The practicum enabled students to apply theoretical knowledge acquired through their academic programme to real clinical situations. The placement supported the development of clinical skills while strengthening students’ ability to connect disease management concepts with patient assessment and care.

Working within a tertiary hospital environment also provided students with exposure to multidisciplinary practice. This helped them develop important professional competencies, including clinical reasoning, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and professional conduct.

The practicum represents an important component of practice-based education within the PHC programme. Clinical placements allow students to move beyond theoretical learning and experience the complexities of healthcare delivery, including the assessment of patients with different health conditions and the application of appropriate management approaches.

The placement also contributes to FHS’s broader commitment to preparing health professionals who can apply evidence-based knowledge and practical skills within the Maldivian health system. Exposure to a major tertiary healthcare setting gives students an opportunity to understand how clinical services operate and how different health professionals contribute to patient care.

The activity contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through education focused on improving the capacity of future health professionals to contribute to patient care. It also supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by integrating supervised clinical experience into undergraduate health professional education.

According to the activity feedback, the clinical posting improved students’ clinical exposure, professional confidence, and practical understanding of disease assessment and management. The experience therefore strengthened the connection between classroom-based learning and professional practice, supporting the development of competent and practice-ready PHC graduates.