In a move to prevent financial difficulties and medicine shortages under the Aasandha universal health insurance scheme, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has introduced key reforms aimed at streamlining access to essential medications. The decision follows discussions within the Cabinet, based on a paper submitted by the Ministry of Health.
The newly approved measures focus on improving the efficiency of medicine procurement, distribution, and accessibility across the country. Among the major reforms is the establishment of a mechanism to ensure that all prescribed medicines available in the Maldives are registered under Aasandha. Additionally, treatment guidelines will be finalized to standardize prescriptions.
A major step in the initiative includes enabling doctors to access a dashboard currently under development, allowing them to check the availability of medicines supplied by the State Trading Organisation (STO). Medical professionals will also be briefed on these updates to ensure seamless coordination.
To mitigate shortages, all medicines listed in the approved drug registry will be stocked in STO pharmacies without interruptions. Furthermore, STO will obtain the necessary permissions to import medicines through foreign hospitals empanelled by Aasandha, following policies set by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA). As a long-term solution, STO will develop a system to source medicines directly from manufacturers, reducing dependency on third-party suppliers.
The initiative also includes strengthening the healthcare infrastructure by establishing four new GP clinics in Malé, ensuring continuous medicine supply through STO pharmacies. Additionally, a streamlined system will be introduced across regional hospitals and islands, ensuring that medicines are provided exclusively through Aasandha. In cases where a specific medicine is unavailable in an island, STO will be responsible for supplying it upon request.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with playing a more active role in facilitating the import of medicines from international sources, while the Ministry of Health will address service delivery issues and respond to any concerns raised regarding medicine availability.
For inpatients, hospitals will be required to provide necessary medicines through STO, further eliminating barriers to access. Additionally, MFDA will introduce a tracking system to monitor all imported medicines, and a digital platform will be developed to allow patients to check the availability and location of prescribed medicines in real time.
These reforms align with President Muizzu’s pledge, as stated in his presidential address, to eliminate obstacles and financial burdens for citizens seeking essential medicines. The implementation of these measures is expected to create a more efficient and reliable healthcare system, ensuring that patients across the Maldives can access medications without disruption
