New state firm to study local drug production, minister says

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said on Wednesday that one of the responsibilities of the new government company established to import medicines into the Maldives will be to study the feasibility of producing pharmaceuticals locally.

Responding to questions from MPs in Parliament, Minister Nazim said that many developing countries address medicine shortages by establishing dedicated state-owned pharmaceutical companies.

He noted that while STO is currently the main importer of medicines in the Maldives, it also operates in multiple sectors and is not solely focused on pharmaceuticals.

“Common practice and research findings show that when an entity focuses on a specific issue, the outcomes tend to improve,” Nazim said.

The minister stated that several developing nations operate government-led pharmaceutical manufacturers because ensuring medicine availability is a priority.

He said that a specialised company would be able to focus entirely on resolving the medicine supply issue, including identifying reliable suppliers, establishing direct links with manufacturers, and exploring long-term solutions.

“The Maldives cannot leave its medicine situation as it is. Neighbouring countries are now producing basic medicines,” Nazim said.

He added that the new company will conduct research, establish laboratories, and seek investors to explore which medicines can be produced in the Maldives and how the sector can be developed.

Nazim stressed that expert-led research is required to resolve the country’s longstanding drug shortages.

The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited was established on 7 September to address medicine supply challenges in the Maldives.