- State Pharma is upgrading stock management and supply chain systems with digital forecasting tools to reduce medicine shortages.
- The corporation plans to maintain sufficient medicine stocks to meet national demand for one to two years.
- State Pharma took over 193 pharmacies from STO and is working with private suppliers to widen medicine availability and control prices.
State Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Corporation is strengthening its medicine procurement and supply systems as part of efforts to reduce shortages and maintain uninterrupted access to essential medicines across the Maldives.
Speaking on state radio Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu, State Pharma Managing Director Dr Shah Mahir said the corporation’s main responsibility is to procure medicines and medical supplies in bulk and ensure their distribution to the public.
Dr Shah said medicine shortages have remained a longstanding challenge and that the corporation is developing longer-term solutions rather than focusing primarily on commercial returns.
State Pharma is upgrading its stock management and supply chain systems while introducing digital technologies intended to improve forecasting, procurement and distribution.
Medicines that are not available locally continue to be imported against individual prescriptions as a short-term measure. The corporation plans to improve estimates of national medicine requirements and maintain sufficient stocks to meet demand for between one and two years.
State Pharma has also taken over the operation of pharmacies previously managed by State Trading Organisation. A total of 193 pharmacies have been transferred to the corporation and are now operating under the State Pharma name.
Research conducted by the corporation found that only 25 per cent of medicines used in the Maldives had previously been registered through STO. State Pharma is therefore working with private sector suppliers to widen the range of available medicines while seeking to control prices across the healthcare system.
