State Pharma Prioritising Medicine Availability Over Profit, Says Managing Director

The State Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supply Corporation (State Pharma) is prioritising the uninterrupted availability of medicines across the Maldives over maximising business profits, Managing Director Dr. Shah Mahir has said.

Speaking during an interview on State Radio, as reported by Dhuvas MV, Dr. Mahir said the corporation's immediate focus is to establish a system that ensures medicines are available without interruption as the newly established company begins full operations.

"Our objective is not to maximise business profits," he said, adding that State Pharma's primary responsibility is to procure the medicines and medical equipment required by the Maldives in bulk and distribute them efficiently to the public.

He said medicine shortages have remained an unresolved issue for many years and that the corporation is working to deliver a comprehensive, long-term solution.

As part of that effort, State Pharma is strengthening its stock management and supply chain while introducing a modern digital system to improve inventory management and distribution.

Dr. Mahir said medicines that are currently unavailable in the Maldives are being imported based on individual prescriptions as a temporary measure. In the long term, however, the corporation plans to forecast the country's pharmaceutical needs in advance and maintain medicine stocks sufficient for one to two years.

State Pharma was established in September last year under a special decree issued by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to oversee the procurement and distribution of medicines and medical supplies nationwide.

As part of the transition, all pharmacies and employees previously managed by the State Trading Organization (STO) were transferred to State Pharma on 1 July, with the corporation assuming responsibility for pharmaceutical services across the Maldives.