Govt pharmaceutical company begins importing medicines

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation (SPHMC) has started importing medicines to the Maldives and distributing them to islands.

The minister made the remarks during an appearance on the programme “Raajje Miadhu” broadcast by Public Service Media (PSM) on Monday.

Nazim said the company has begun its work on medicine imports and that some medicines have already been brought to the country and supplied to islands.

“The result of forming a company will be people who identify the problems in the system and work on them,” the minister said.

Previously, medicines were imported by the State Trading Organisation (STO). Pharmacies operated by STO have now been transferred to the government pharmaceutical company.

Nazim said many countries operate companies dedicated to importing medicines and that the Maldivian pharmaceutical corporation will cooperate with similar companies in other countries.

The minister also said that medicines imported to the Maldives meet international standards and are brought with the required documentation.