Managing Director of the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited (StatePharma), Shah Mahir, has announced that STO’s pharmacies and the entire medicine importation system will be transferred under StatePharma starting July 1st.
Speaking at the Parliament’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee, Shah stated that the issue of medicine availability has become a national-level concern and that the company is working closely with the government to find a solution.
Shah noted that research conducted so far indicates significant issues within the current pharmaceutical system. Specifically, he highlighted the lack of an adequate system to estimate or “forecast” the quantity of medicine available in the Maldives, current stock levels, and future requirements. As a result, medicine shortages have become a recurring issue. He stated that work is now underway with all stakeholders to reshape this system.
Shah further added that efforts are currently being made to establish a modern ERP system that will provide a “live” view of medicine stocks. Once STO pharmacies are transferred on July 1st, this system will allow for real-time tracking of which medicines are available at each pharmacy. He also assured that this would enable the accurate identification of the country’s pharmaceutical needs and lead to more robust importation planning.
One of the biggest challenges in importing medicine to the Maldives, according to Shah, is the small population, which prevents large pharmaceutical manufacturers from accepting “bulk” orders. He noted that planning and organizing these requirements well in advance would provide a solution to this issue.
“The medicine issue did not reach this point overnight. This problem has been gradually worsening over the years because it was not addressed, or because the system remained fragmented, requiring work to be done in a difficult and disjointed manner, which prevented a proper solution,” said StatePharma Managing Director Shah Mahir.
StatePharma is currently working to resolve several issues. Since April 1st, the company has begun the process of sourcing and bringing in medicines that are unavailable in the Maldives from abroad. Additionally, a 24-hour call center (1505) has been established.
Shah stated that StatePharma’s goal is to provide medicine to the public as quickly as possible and that a mechanism is now in place to work collaboratively in cases where approval from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) is required.
StatePharma is a government company established by Presidential Decree to strengthen the Maldives’ pharmaceutical system and resolve difficulties in obtaining medicine. The primary objective of the company is to eliminate challenges in supplying medicine to the Maldives and to consolidate and strengthen the pharmaceutical and medical supply operations previously managed by STO under a dedicated company.
