The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has given pharmacies six months to comply with a new two-tier classification system and ensure they stock the minimum range of essential medicines required under their assigned category.
In an announcement issued on Wednesday, the authority said it had reviewed and updated the list of essential medicines that pharmacies are required to keep in stock. The revised requirements are intended to improve public access to basic medicines.
Under the new system, pharmacies have been divided into two categories. Existing pharmacies must ensure they stock at least 80 per cent of the medicines required for their category within six months from Wednesday.
The MFDA said newly established pharmacies will only be granted an operating licence after meeting all medicine requirements applicable to their category.
Details of the classification system and medicine requirements are outlined in the Guidelines on Minimum Requirements of Essential Medicines in Pharmacies. The guidelines will be available on the MFDA website, the Ministry of Health website and the Dhirithi portal. The authority said further information can be obtained through its Medicine and Therapeutic Goods hotline.
The Government recently established State Pharma to address recurring medicine shortages in the Maldives. However, concerns over the availability of essential medicines have continued despite the company’s establishment.
