Fri, 11 Apr 2025
|DHIVEHI
President announces major reforms to streamline Aasandha medicine access
18 Feb 2025
|
Photo: President's Office
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has unveiled comprehensive changes to the Aasandha healthcare system, aiming to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines while reducing the financial burden on patients.
The reforms were approved during Sunday's Cabinet meeting following recommendations from the Ministry of Health. The reforms include eleven key provisions:
- A mechanism will be established to ensure all prescribed medicines in the country are registered under Aasandha.
- Treatment guidelines will be finalised to standardise medical care.
- STO pharmacies will ensure uninterrupted availability of all medicines on the approved drug list.
- STO will receive authority to import medicines through Aasandha-empanelled foreign hospitals under Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) guidelines, with plans to establish direct sourcing relationships with manufacturers.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take on an expanded role in facilitating medicine imports.
- Four new GP clinics in Malé will ensure steady medicine distribution through STO pharmacies. This system will be implemented across regional and island hospitals, with STO providing medicines upon request for any unavailable items.
- Hospital inpatients will have direct access to medicines through STO.
- Doctors will gain access to a new dashboard, currently under development, displaying real-time medicine availability at STO facilities.
- Doctors will be thoroughly briefed on these system-wide changes (above point).
- An MFDA digital tracking system will be implemented, enabling patients to monitor medicine availability and location through their prescriptions.
- The Ministry of Health will oversee service delivery and address related concerns.
These reforms build upon measures introduced in 2024, which included implementing bulk procurement for higher-quality medicines and establishing price controls for 250 medicines to curb long-standing unfair trade practices. The changes are expected to significantly reduce excessive Aasandha expenditure, with all savings to be reinvested in health sector improvements.
In his Presidential Address 2025, the President assured that the Government would ensure no citizen faces financial hardship in obtaining medicines through Aasandha, emphasising that the Administration will always prioritise the most beneficial and equitable approach for the people.
The President also outlined broader healthcare improvement strategies. As part of the expanded healthcare services, he announced plans for enhanced thalassaemia care, including free bone marrow transplants and the construction of a state-of-the-art thalassaemia hospital with an accommodation block in Hulhumalé.
The President also highlighted progress in mental health services, including the launch of a 24-hour National Mental Health Helpline (1677), and plans for new mental health facilities in several islands.
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