Ministry of Health has contracted State Trading Organization (STO) to develop pharmacies in 11 islands.
The agreement was signed by Senior Executive Director at the health ministry Abdul Hannan Hussain and General Manager of Business Research and Property Management at STO Mohammed Ihsan Waheed. The pharmacies inside the health centres of the islands will be demolished as part of the agreement. The new pharmacies will be established and opened on the grounds of the health centres.
The pharmacies are to be developed in Thuraakunu and Thakandhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll, Landhoo in Noonu Atoll, Dhonfanu in Baa Atoll, Dhigurah in Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, Omadhoo in Thaa Atoll, Maduvvari, Kolhufushi, and Raimandu in Meemu Atoll, and Kolamaafushi and Kanduhulhudhoo in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
Moreover, the construction of the new pharmacies is to be completed within four months. STO stated the project will address the space constraints of pharmacies and provide easy access to pharmacy services. In addition, priority will be given to those who belong to the islands when hiring workers for the project.
The health ministry in collaboration with STO has started a project to relocate the pharmacies inside the health centre buildings of 25 islands with space constraints due to the lack of space.
STO said that pharmacy buildings have been completed in three islands so far. The state-owned company said efforts to establish pharmacies on two islands are already underway and work on nine more has been planned for the future in addition to the 11 newly signed islands.