The Managing Director of Aasandha Company, Aminath Zeeniya, has stated that the unavailability of essential medicines to the public is a serious concern, particularly given that there are over 800 pharmacies in the Maldives providing more than 3,000 types of medication under the national health insurance scheme. Speaking at a parliamentary committee, Zeeniya highlighted that although 60 percent of the Aasandha scheme’s expenditure is allocated to pharmacies, there is currently no system in place to guarantee the availability of essential medicines at these outlets.
Furthermore, Zeeniya pointed out several critical challenges, including the failure to import certain medications listed on the Approved Drug List, frequent changes in available medicine brands, and the exorbitant prices at which drugs are sold. She specifically noted that some pharmacies are selling medication at markups of 500 to 600 percent. The lack of mechanisms to regulate the wholesale prices of medicine remains a significant concern. However, Zeeniya expressed hope that the government’s recently initiated bulk procurement process would provide a viable solution to these prevailing issues.
