In a decisive move to address the escalating medicine shortage in the Maldives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has openly criticized certain businessmen for deliberately halting the import of essential medicines. He attributes this crisis to profiteering practices that have burdened the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, and compromised public health.
During a press conference held today at the President’s Office, President Muizzu highlighted that some private companies were selling medicines with profit margins soaring up to 2,000 percent. He emphasized that such exorbitant pricing has led to significant financial waste within Aasandha, stating, “This is a significant waste of money through Aasandha.” He further noted that individuals engaged in these practices have amassed considerable wealth rapidly.
In response, the government has implemented price controls on 250 essential medicines to curb these excessive profits and reduce unnecessary expenditure. President Muizzu acknowledged that this move prompted some businessmen to intentionally cease importing certain medicines, exacerbating the shortage. He candidly remarked, “As a repercussion of reducing it, some businessmen intentionally stopped bringing [medicines]. They choked the supply of medicines.”
To mitigate the crisis, the State Trading Organisation (STO) has been tasked with ensuring a steady supply of essential medicines. However, the President admitted that STO faced challenges in promptly importing adequate quantities, contributing to the difficulties in obtaining medicines.
The government has also introduced several measures to streamline the procurement and distribution of medicines. These include establishing a mechanism to register all prescribed medicines under Aasandha, finalizing treatment guidelines, and developing a dashboard for doctors to access information on medicine availability through STO. Additionally, efforts are underway to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines across all islands and regional hospitals, with STO supplying any unavailable medicines upon request.
President Muizzu’s administration remains committed to reforming the Aasandha scheme and combating the profiteering practices that have plagued the nation’s healthcare system. By implementing these measures, the government aims to ensure that citizens have reliable access to affordable medicines and that public funds are utilized effectively to enhance healthcare services.
