Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has assured that the Government is taking decisive steps to address long-standing challenges in accessing essential medicines, and that the situation has improved significantly.

The Minister made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, where he said sustained efforts are underway to ease difficulties faced by patients in obtaining medicines. He noted that the measures implemented by the Government are already delivering tangible relief and progress.

Minister Nazim said the list of approved pharmaceuticals will be expanded, alongside a revision of the essential medicines list, to ensure wider availability and better coverage of patient needs. He added that public complaints regarding medicine shortages are being closely monitored as part of the reform process.

“I can say with confidence that the problem has largely been alleviated. However, our aim is to resolve it to a level where no one has cause for complaint,” he said, adding that further work is being carried out across governance systems, medicine supply chains, and the Aasandha health insurance scheme.

Highlighting improvements to supply, the Minister said the volume of medicines being imported has increased substantially. He noted that the State Trading Organization(STO) previously imported around 200 types of medicines, a figure that has now risen to between 800 and 900. In addition, regulatory frameworks and treatment protocols have been strengthened, with 40 new treatment guidelines formulated last year.

Minister Nazim said a key structural reform has been the establishment of a dedicated pharmaceutical company operating under a separate system, which he described as a critical step towards a permanent solution to medicine supply challenges.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu established the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited on 9 September 2025 to strengthen the procurement and nationwide distribution of medicines, medical consumables, and equipment.