Government Moves to Lift Ban on ADHD Medication Methylphenidate

The government has decided to end the ban on importing Methylphenidate, a key medication used in the treatment of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The President’s Office said the Cabinet decided on a letter submitted to the parliament by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), which raised concerns over the prohibition of the medication.

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In a letter signed by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and sent to Parliament, the government said it had considered advice from the National Drug Control Council before deciding last month to remove Methylphenidate from the list of prohibited substances in the Maldives.

The letter also requested Parliament to take a formal decision on the matter, as legal approval is required before changes can be made to the controlled substances list in line with Cabinet decisions.

Methylphenidate is currently classified as a narcotic under the Drug Act, which places it on the list of substances prohibited from import into the Maldives. The government confirmed that the drug cannot currently be brought into the country under existing regulations.

The issue of access to the medication has been raised previously in Parliament. Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) were summoned to the Parliament Petition Committee in August last year to discuss concerns over its availability.

Methylphenidate is widely recognised as a first-line treatment for ADHD. It is currently listed under Schedule 1 of the Drug Act, which covers substances prohibited from import, while Schedule 2 includes controlled narcotics permitted for medical use.

The MFDA also previously urged Parliament to remove the medication from the prohibited list to allow regulated medical access.