In a significant move to tackle the nation's ongoing medicine shortages, the government has announced that State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited (State Pharma) will officially take over all importation of medicinal drugs, consumables, and equipment by the middle of this year.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Moosa Zameer, during a press conference at the President’s Office.
Established by presidential directive in September of last year, State Pharma was created with the explicit goal of expanding and streamlining the import of critical medical supplies. The company has already commenced operations, importing essential drugs into the country this year. Minister Zameer confirmed that all necessary steps are now being finalised to hand over the entire import process to the state-owned enterprise.
"This strategic move is designed to directly address the persistent difficulties citizens face in accessing necessary medicines," Minister Zameer said.
He highlighted that a key service will be the corporation’s dedication to procuring specialised drugs not commonly available in the local market. These will be stocked at a dedicated pharmacy at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), with a guaranteed availability within 14 days of receiving a prescription.
"The necessary information gaps and the existing difficulties will be solved with this move. Not all brands of medicines are on the market; there are generic medicines, and we will ensure a consistent supply," he added.
To further improve accessibility, plans are underway to establish a network of State Pharma pharmacies across the capital city of Male’ and in densely populated islands nationwide. The government believes that decentralising availability will be crucial to solving regional disparities in healthcare access.
In tandem with these efforts, State Pharma has launched a dedicated 24-hour hotline to field queries and address specific difficulties citizens encounter in obtaining their medication. This service, accessible from anywhere in the Maldives, represents a direct line for the public to seek solutions and information, underscoring the government's commitment to resolving this critical issue.