Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has announced that 99 per cent of the essential medicines required in the Maldives have now been successfully imported via the State Trading Organisation (STO) supply system.

The Minister made the announcement during recent appearances on local news, addressing public concerns surrounding medicine shortages and rising drug prices. Although the issue of medicine unavailability has long been a source of concern for many, reports indicate that the situation became increasingly critical in recent weeks, with pharmacies struggling to meet demands and prices of some drugs soaring.

To address the growing concerns, Minister Nazim stated that the Government, in collaboration with relevant authorities, is actively implementing measures to tackle the shortage. He noted that the efforts being made are yielding results, and the availability of medicines appears to be stabilising. Reforming the Aasandha healthcare scheme has also been prioritised by the current Administration, according to the Minister.

In explaining the root of the recent shortages, Minister Nazim pointed to the temporary imposition of control prices on certain medicines. He stated that although this was intended to regulate costs, it contributed to limited availability in the market. However, he confirmed that these pricing issues have been addressed through further discussion and adjustments.

The Minister highlighted that the long-term solution lies in strengthening the STO’s medicine supply chain. He explained that STO’s drug maintenance division is now working closely with suppliers to manage and verify medicine inventories. Out of approximately 480 medicines listed as essential in the country, 99 per cent have now been successfully brought in through the STO’s system.

In addition to essential medicines, Minister Nazim noted that several drugs from the Government’s approved controlled medicine list have already arrived in the Maldives, with more currently en route. He added that while the country’s approved list includes around 5,000 medications, comprising various brands and dosage levels, approximately 1,300 distinct medicines are in current circulation. Of these, efforts are being made to procure about 1,200 types solely through STO’s channels.

Emphasising the importance of robust infrastructure, the Minister said the first step in resolving medicine shortages is to enhance STO’s supply network, which is already in progress. He also shared that the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) is playing a critical role in this effort by reinforcing the drug registration system and recruiting additional staff.

Minister Nazim concluded that the ongoing initiatives are already showing encouraging progress in addressing the long-standing challenges related to medicine availability in the country.