The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation (StatePharma) Limited will officially take over operations of all State Trading Organization (STO) pharmacies across the Maldives beginning 1 July, marking a significant expansion of the state-run initiative to address persistent medicine shortages in the country.
In an interview with PSM News, StatePharma’s Managing Director Dr Shah Mahir confirmed that the company has already begun importing medicines and supplying them to the public, with 194 pharmacies slated to come under its control—including a brand new pharmacy at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
"We are focusing on 193 pharmacies currently operated by STO, plus our new pharmacy at IGMH, bringing the total to 194 pharmacies across different parts of the country. Preparations for supplies and consumables are underway, and we expect the electronic system to be fully operational before July,” he explained.
The state pharmaceutical company, established by the government to tackle the critical shortage of essential medicines in the Maldives, has prioritised establishing a proper system for tracking drug inventory. A special portal is being developed to ensure transparency, allowing the public to view live stock levels of government-available and unavailable drugs.
The company has also launched a dedicated hotline, 1050, to assist the public in accessing medicines through the universal health insurance scheme, Aasandha.