New Committee to Tackle Medicine Supply Issues in the Maldives

A new committee has been established to tackle the growing challenges related to medicine supply in the Maldives. The decision came after a meeting between the State Trading Organisation (STO), the Maldives Doctors Union, and the Maldives Medical Association.

The committee will include representatives from STO, Aasandha, the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), and both medical associations. Its goal is to find sustainable solutions to medicine shortages and ensure that essential drugs are accessible to the public in a timely manner.

A key part of the plan is introducing an online system that allows doctors to track the real-time availability of medicines at STO pharmacies. This move comes after increasing concerns from patients, especially those with chronic conditions, who have struggled to obtain medicines under the Aasandha health scheme. Some pharmacies have stopped dispensing medicines due to financial constraints, leaving patients to cover the costs themselves.

The committee aims to address these issues and develop a long-term solution that will ensure the continuous availability of medicines, easing the burden on patients and healthcare providers alike.