Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim announced today that the government has approved the establishment of a dedicated company to handle the import and distribution of medicines in the Maldives. The decision, made by the Cabinet, aims to provide a permanent solution to ongoing challenges in medicine availability, as revealed in an interview with 'Mihaaru' newspaper.
Minister Nazim stated that the new company will assume responsibility for all medicine-related operations currently managed by the State Trading Organization (STO). The Maldives has faced persistent difficulties in securing essential medicines, compounded by issues in accessing expensive medications through the Aasandha healthcare scheme, prompting the need for a specialized entity to streamline the process.
In a related effort to address medicine shortages, STO recently signed an agreement with HLL Lifecare Limited, a company under the Indian government. STO noted that this partnership was intended to ensure a continuous supply of essential medicines at affordable prices, addressing the healthcare system’s challenges due to shortages over recent months.
The establishment of the new company marks a significant step toward resolving medicine accessibility issues, enhancing the efficiency of the Maldives’ healthcare system, and ensuring that critical medications are readily available to the public.