The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited will open its first pharmacy at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) next week, according to Managing Director Dr Shah Abdulla Mahir.
Speaking at the Parliament’s State-owned Enterprises Committee, Shah said the company is taking measures to address long-standing medicine shortages and systemic weaknesses, which officials say were neglected for years. Pharmacy operations currently under State Trading Organisation (STO) will be gradually transferred to the State Pharmaceutical Company, with full transfer planned from July. Medicine imports have been transferred to the company since 1 April, he noted.
According to Shah, the new pharmacy will stock all essential medicines needed for the hospital, ensuring better availability for patients. The pharmacy is being designed such that all medicines available in the Maldives will be available at the outlet, he said.
As part of preparations for the STO pharmacy transfer, a national stock monitoring system is being developed to track medicine availability across STO pharmacies in all areas of the country.
The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited was set up in September last year to improve access to medicines and fix systemic issues in drug supply. Officials say the reforms are expected to significantly improve the drug supply situation within the next year.