‘Greater Hardship’ in Accessing Medicines in Malé Than in the Atolls, Says Health Minister

Health Minister Dr. Geela Ali has said patients in Malé face significantly greater difficulties in obtaining prescribed medicines compared to residents in the atolls, as the government works on system-wide fixes to ongoing shortages.

Speaking on a programme on Public Service Media (PSM) last night, the minister said that patients in the islands have much easier access to necessary medicine, highlighting that in the islands there are usually four to five pharmacies within close distance, and said that if unavailable on the island, neighbouring islands usually have that medicine in stock. On the contrary, the minister acknowledged a common struggle in the capital, where patients often have to visit multiple pharmacies with prescriptions in hand, only to find medicines unavailable.

She said that some patients are forced to return to their doctors to change prescriptions when drugs cannot be sourced.

She also urged doctors to cease the practice of letting patients choose which medicine to take, saying that nowadays doctors are asking patients to get whichever brand is available rather than the ideal prescription.

She said addressing the issue would require coordinated reforms rather than isolated fixes.

Among the key measures outlined were the introduction of a real-time system to show which medicines are currently in stock across pharmacies, and improved prescribing practices to ensure doctors issue prescriptions based on available supplies.

The remarks come amid continued public frustration over medicine shortages, particularly in the capital, where demand pressures and supply gaps have made access to essential drugs increasingly unpredictable.

While the minister has highlighted the need for a real-time system of checking available medicine, the managing director of the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation, Shah Mahir, stated earlier this month that work is underway to introduce an online system that will allow the public to check the availability of medicines across the Maldives.

The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation has also introduced a 24-hour hotline to address public concerns regarding the availability of medicines.

The service was announced by Dr. Shah Mahir, who stated that the call centre has been established to respond to issues related to unavailable medicines, import requirements, and pharmacy-related complaints.