Muizzu Orders Action Against Excessive Medicine Profits to Reduce Aasandha Expenses
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued directives to curb the sale of medicines at inflated prices, aiming to reduce unnecessary costs borne by the Aasandha health insurance scheme.
Muizzu announced the move through a post on X (formerly Twitter) last night, emphasising that medicines imported into the Maldives are often sold at significantly marked-up prices. He highlighted that some medicines are being sold at profit margins ranging from 200 percent to 2,000 percent.
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ޑޮކްޓަރީ ބޭސް ރާއްޖެ އެތެރެކޮށް ވިއްކާ އަގުތައް ރާއްޖޭގެ ބާޒާރުގައި މިހާތަނަށް ހުރީ %200 އިން ފެށިގެން %2000 އާއި ދެމެދުގެ ފައިދާއެއް ނަގާ މިންވަރުގައި. ބޭސް ވިއްކުމުގައި މިވަރުގެ ބޮޑު ފައިދާ ނެގުން ހުއްޓުވުމަށްޓަކައި އަޅަންޖެހޭ ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެޅުމަށް ކަމާގުޅުންހުރި އެންމެހައި…— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) September 11, 2024
“I have instructed the relevant authorities to implement price control measures to put an end to these excessive profits in the sale of prescription medicine,” Muizzu stated.
The proposed measures are intended to lower medicine prices in the local market and reduce the financial burden on Aasandha. Muizzu assured that further details regarding the implementation of these changes would be released soon.
He also noted that the funds saved by reducing medicine costs could be reallocated to improve healthcare services across the country. Additionally, Muizzu mentioned that the government seeks to address inequities in the Aasandha scheme, which currently benefits wealthier individuals while leaving average or below-average citizens at a disadvantage.
This move is part of broader efforts by the government to reduce state expenditure. The failure to regulate medicine prices has, until now, allowed importers to profit significantly through the Aasandha programme.
