President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has declared that all medications listed on the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) essential medicine list will be accessible at State Trading Organisation (STO) pharmacies starting from 15 March.
During a meeting with residents of Meedhoo as part of his ongoing tour of South Nilandhe Atoll, President Muizzu addressed recent challenges in the nation’s pharmaceutical sector. He attributed the recent medicine shortages to the cessation of excessive profit-making practices by pharmacies, which had previously inflated medicine prices. The President emphasised that the government is committed to preventing any entity from causing hardships to citizens.
The Maldives has been grappling with a severe medicine shortage, affecting patients with chronic illnesses and leading to a scarcity of basic supplies in hospitals. Contributing factors include payment delays from the Aasandha health insurance scheme, regulatory hurdles, and price controls that have disrupted the supply chain. For instance, ADK Hospital reported being owed MVR 250 million since October 2023, impacting its ability to procure life-saving drugs.
In response to these challenges, stakeholders such as STO, the Doctors’ Union, and the Maldives Medical Association have convened to implement measures aimed at improving medicine accessibility. These include forming a joint committee to address pharmaceutical issues promptly and creating an online platform to provide doctors with real-time information on drug availability at STO pharmacies.
