The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has revised the national list of essential medicines and given pharmacies six months to comply with new requirements under a two-tier classification system.

The authority said the revised list is intended to ensure the continuous availability of essential medicines and improve public access to basic healthcare.

Under the new system, pharmacies have been divided into two categories, with existing pharmacies required to stock at least 80 per cent of the medicines prescribed for their assigned category within six months. Newly established pharmacies will only be granted an operating licence after meeting all medicine requirements applicable to their category.

MFDA said details of the classification system are outlined in the Guidelines on Minimum Requirements of Essential Medicines in Pharmacies, which are available on the MFDA website, the Ministry of Health website and the Dhirithi portal.

The revision comes as the Government continues efforts to address recurring medicine shortages, including the establishment of State Pharma to strengthen the supply and availability of essential medicines across the Maldives.