Managing Director of State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited, Dr Shah Mahir, has announced that the entire pharmacy system in the Maldives, including STO pharmacies, will be brought under State Pharma starting July 1.

Speaking at the Parliament’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee, Dr Shah described the current drug supply situation as a national-level issue and said efforts are underway with the Government to reform the system.

He noted that existing studies have revealed major gaps, particularly the lack of an effective system to forecast medicine availability, stock levels and future demand, leading to recurring shortages.

To address this, Dr Shah said a modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is being developed to provide real-time visibility of medicine stocks. Once implemented alongside the transition on July 1, the system will allow users to instantly check the availability of drugs across pharmacies nationwide.

He added that the system will also strengthen import planning by helping authorities better estimate the country’s pharmaceutical needs.

Dr Shah highlighted that one of the biggest challenges in importing medicines is the Maldives’ small population, which limits bulk purchasing from major pharmaceutical suppliers. However, he expressed confidence that improved planning would help mitigate this issue.

State Pharma has also introduced measures to improve access to medicines, including importing drugs not readily available in the Maldives and establishing a 24-hour call centre (1505).

He further stated that mechanisms are in place to coordinate approvals where required, ensuring timely access to essential medicines.

State Pharma was established by Presidential Decree to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical supply system, consolidating operations previously managed under the State Trading Organization.