Health.
Health Minister Jeela Ali announced on September 27, 2026, that efforts are underway to import all medicines on the National Essential Medicines List into the Maldives and make them available to the public before the end of November 2026, through the newly formed State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation (State Pharma) established to import high-quality medicines into the country. To strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and provide medicines to atoll pharmacies on a sustainable basis, the operation of 193 pharmacies and 706 employees previously managed by STO was transferred to State Pharma on July 1 of this year.
On 27 September 2026, significant work was carried out to import essential medicines into the Maldives through State Pharma. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure an uninterrupted supply of quality medicines in pharmacies and healthcare centers across the Maldives, and to provide medicines to citizens with ease. Furthermore, special priority has been given under this initiative to strengthen the medicine import system through State Pharma and maintain stable medicine prices in the market. This step is an important measure taken to further strengthen the country's healthcare system.
