Khadeeja Abdul Samad Abdulla
Khadeeja Abdul Samad Abdulla | |
|---|---|
| Born | Malé, Maldives |
| Occupation(s) | Government official, public health administrator |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | Minister of State for Health (2023–present); Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (2015–2020) |
Khadeeja Abdul Samad Abdulla () is a Maldivian government official and public health administrator currently serving as the Minister of State for Health since 21 November 2023, following her appointment by President Mohamed Muizzu. She formerly occupied the position of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health from 2015 until 2020.
Early life and education
Born in Malé to Abdul Samad Abdulla, a physician and diplomat who also held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khadeeja descends from a family deeply involved in political and civic leadership. Her heritage includes connections to Mohamed Latheef, a co-founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party, as well as notable reformers such as Abdullah Katheeb and Hirihamaidhi Kaleyfaanu.
She completed her foundational schooling in Malé before obtaining an International Baccalaureate Diploma at the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Abdulla also earned a master’s degree specializing in Public Health and Health Systems Development.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health (2015–2020)
Abdulla was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health on 25 February 2015 by the Civil Service Commission.
During her tenure, she played a central role in directing major public health policies and frameworks, including overseeing the development of the Health Master Plan 2016–2025 and establishing the Maldives Healthcare Quality Standards in 2018. Her contributions are acknowledged in the final report of the Maldives Demographic and Health Survey 2016–17.
In May 2018, she represented the Maldives as Vice-President at the 71st World Health Assembly held in Geneva.
Minister of State for Health (2023–present)
On 21 November 2023, Abdulla assumed office as Minister of State for Health within President Muizzu’s government, spearheading efforts related to healthcare quality improvement, governance reforms, and fostering international partnerships.
Policy and programme work
Abdulla has been instrumental in shaping health policies across the Maldives:
- Maldives Healthcare Quality Standards (2018) — contributed significantly to crafting national quality benchmarks; includes a foreword from her as Permanent Secretary.
- Health Master Plan 2016–2025 — provided strategic guidance during its creation in collaboration with WHO.
- Demographic and Health Survey (2016–17) — managed critical national data collection that informs key health and demographic indicators.
International engagement
She has actively represented Maldives on various global health platforms:
- Served as Vice-President at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva (2018).
- Honored by WHO SEARO in October 2024 for reinforcing Maldives’ dedication to enhancing health systems.
- Participated as an observer during the WHO Executive Board Officers’ meeting in October 2024.
- Featured alongside the Maldivian delegation in WHO’s multimedia coverage during EB156 (February 2025).
Personal life
Abdulla is married and has two children. Her father, Abdul Samad Abdulla, was a distinguished Maldivian physician, diplomat, and statesman who held positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs and High Commissioner to Bangladesh, inspiring her early interest in public health and national service.