"We will not give this medical mafia the chance to control medicines," the President asserted.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu alleged last night that businesses selling medicine with huge mark ups and taking undue advantage of the State's Aasandha insurance system have begun controlling availability of medicines after the government enforced price control to STO rates.
The government is undertaking efforts to bring in medications under bulk procurement by STO, and through this reducing prices of medication on the market.
However, with this, complaints have risen that medicines previously issued under Aasandha are no longer available in the country.
Speaking to residents of Meedho last night in his ongoing trip to Dhaalu atoll, President Muizzu said that before bulk procurements from STO was initiated, pharmacies were selling medicines with a 1000 to 2000 percent profit margin.
Once the government changed regulations, forcing pharmacies to sell medicine at STO's rates, these businesses have limited the amount of medicine available on the market, he said.
To resolve this, STO is now working on bringing in all medications needed in Maldives through assistance from the Ministry of Finance, he said.
"We will not give this medical mafia the chance to control medicines," the President asserted.
The President said that all the basic medicines on MFDA's list of authorized medications will be brought in to Maldives before March 15 and made available at STO pharmacies.
A month after this, all medicines authorized for use in the Maldives will be made available, he said.
"We will find a complete resolution to this issue where the private sector is inconveniencing the public," he said.
He further said that these steps taken in regards to medicine availability and price control has resulted in saving MVR 500 million from the State budget.
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