President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured that his Administration will implement meaningful reforms without reducing Government expenditure on essential subsidies, Aasandha, or retirement pensions.

Speaking during his visit to AA Mathiveri, the President emphasised his commitment to safeguarding citizen benefits while addressing inefficiencies in Government spending.

Highlighting areas of concern, President Dr Muizzu drew attention to wasteful practices within the Aasandha system, particularly the exorbitant mark-ups by pharmacies. He noted that some of the most frequently used 250 medicines are sold to Aasandha with price hikes of up to 1,000 per cent. Such practices, he stated, contribute to unnecessary Government expenditure and must be reformed.

The President outlined the Government’s efforts to address these inefficiencies. He explained that pharmacies will now be required to sell medicines at rates comparable to those of the State Trading Organisation (STO). To ensure affordability, the Government plans to introduce a bulk procurement system, ensuring the availability of medicines at reasonable prices without compromising on quality or access for citizens.

President Dr Muizzu reaffirmed that Aasandha reforms will focus on eliminating wasteful expenditure while maintaining the benefits provided to the public. He stressed that these reforms aim to enhance efficiency without reducing the essential services and support that citizens rely on.