State’s Pharmacy Supply Launches Hotline and Digital Portal to Improve Access to Medicines

The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited (SPHMC) has introduced a new hotline and digital portal aimed at improving public access to essential medicines in the Maldives.

The corporation has launched a 24-hour hotline, 1505, enabling individuals to seek assistance when facing difficulties in obtaining required medicines. The service also allows users to place orders and track their requests.

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In addition, SPHMC has rolled out a digital portal accessible through eFaas, designed to integrate with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) system. The platform is expected to streamline and accelerate the processing of medicine requests submitted through both the existing system and the newly introduced portal.

The initiative is intended to ensure that medicines are delivered in a more convenient, transparent and reliable manner.

SPHMC was established on 9 September last year and began importing medicines six months after its formation as part of efforts to strengthen the national pharmaceutical supply chain.

At present, the State Trading Organization (STO), a fully state-owned enterprise, continues to import and distribute medical drugs, consumables and equipment in bulk. STO pharmacies operate across all inhabited islands, with the process of transferring these outlets under SPHMC having commenced this year.

The development follows earlier government efforts to improve access to high-quality pharmaceuticals. On 22 July 2024, the government announced plans to introduce medicines approved by European health authorities for the first time, alongside the procurement of bulk medicines through a quality-based pooled procurement mechanism in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).