State Pharmaceutical Company to Open First Pharmacy at IGMH Next Week

The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited is set to open its first pharmacy at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) next week, marking a significant shift in how essential medicines are distributed within the Maldives. Managing Director Dr. Shah Abdulla Mahir announced the development during a session with the Parliament’s State-owned Enterprises Committee. He stated that the company is implementing strategic measures to resolve systemic weaknesses and chronic medicine shortages that have persisted for years due to previous neglect. The new pharmacy is designed to be a comprehensive hub, stocking all essential medications required by the hospital. Dr. Mahir emphasized that the goal is to ensure that every medicine available within the Maldives is accessible at this specific outlet, directly improving availability for patients. This initiative is part of a broader transition of pharmacy operations from the State Trading Organisation (STO). While medicine imports were already transferred to the State Pharmaceutical Company on April 1, the full transfer of pharmacy operations is scheduled for completion by July. To support this transition and prevent future shortages, the corporation is developing a national stock monitoring system. This digital infrastructure will allow officials to track medicine availability in real-time across all STO pharmacies throughout the country, ensuring a more equitable distribution of supplies. The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation was established in September last year with a mandate to overhaul the national drug supply chain. Officials believe these structural reforms will significantly stabilize the medicine supply situation across the archipelago within the next year.