The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has stated that the bulk importation of medicine will facilitate the availability of prescribed medications sustainably. The initiative aims to address shortages of medicines, especially those required to treat chronic diseases.
Noting that medical drugs are often imported and sold in private pharmacies, MFDA revealed that the medicines imported often fail to meet demand, eventually leading to inflated prices. Aiming to address the issue, the government has started to implement measures to ensure that European-quality medicines are available in the Maldives at affordable prices, in line with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's commitment.
Providing insight on the ongoing works to resolve the issue, Senior Pharmacist of MFDA Aishath Jaleela stressed that some vital medications required in critical situations were not available in the Maldives. Jaleela explained that this is due to the relatively low demand for such medication in the nation, and companies are unable to provide for them. However, she emphasised the ongoing works, adding that arrangements have been made with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to secure consistent access to these essential medications in the Maldives.
The medications and vaccinations required to treat chronic diseases in the Maldives are often required in small quantities and are difficult to store for extensive durations. Although State Trading Organisation (STO) provides this service, insufficient supply of the medicines poses significant disadvantages to the patients diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, it can be noted that the prices of medicines in the Maldives are significantly higher in the Maldives compared to that of global and regional markets. Therefore, the availability of European-quality medicines through the UNDP promises a sustainable solution to these issues.