Public frustration over access to medicines has long been a pressure point in the Maldives’ healthcare system, with patients frequently reporting shortages, delays, and high out-of-pocket costs. The government has now moved to address these concerns by establishing a fully state-owned pharmaceutical import company, positioning it as a structural response to problems that have persisted for years.
The newly formed State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited, known as State Pharma, has been tasked with importing essential medicines and strengthening supply reliability across the country. According to the government, the aim is to build a more predictable and affordable system for medicines that have often been difficult for patients to obtain, particularly under the national health insurance scheme.
For many citizens, challenges in accessing medicines have translated into postponed treatments, repeated pharmacy visits, and uncertainty over whether prescribed drugs would be available at all. These issues have been compounded by rising healthcare costs and persistent concerns over the sustainability of Aasandha, the state-funded insurance programme, whose expenditure has grown rapidly over successive administrations.
While earlier governments attempted incremental reforms, officials say deeper problems within the medicine supply chain and insurance reimbursement system limited their impact. Historically, regulatory attention focused largely on safety and compliance, with less emphasis on system-wide efficiency, cost control, and long-term planning.
As part of the current reform effort, all essential medicines previously imported through the State Trading Organisation have been transferred to State Pharma, centralising responsibility for procurement under a dedicated entity. The government has also acknowledged that the Maldives’ small population weakens its negotiating position in global pharmaceutical markets, prompting efforts to work with neighbouring countries on bulk procurement arrangements to reduce costs.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said that within the next two months, all essential medicines required in the Maldives, along with several drugs that are currently unavailable, are expected to be supplied through State Pharma. “Hopefully, these medicines will be available by the end of April,” he said, noting that the company has begun engaging with regional and international partners.
State Pharma has already placed overseas orders for around 400 medicines that are reportedly difficult to source locally. In addition, the company is setting up a dedicated call centre to provide information to the public and says it is working to ensure uninterrupted medicine supplies across the atolls.
Whether the new structure will ease day-to-day difficulties faced by patients will depend on execution, pricing discipline, and coordination with healthcare providers. For now, the creation of State Pharma signals a shift towards a more centralised approach to medicine procurement, as authorities seek to stabilise a system that has long left citizens uncertain about access to essential treatment.
