ADHD medicine for children barred in Maldives sparks concern

Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has announced that there is a type of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication for kids that cannot be brought into the country due to it being classified as a type of drug in the Drugs Act.

The Health Ministry and MFDA have convened with the Parliament Petition Committee today to discuss the matter. Madavari constituency Mohamed Shazeem of the committee has outlined the issue with the medicine, while also bringing the negligence the medical system made for children with special needs experiences and the various complaints surrounding it into the spotlight.

While answering Shazeem's query, MFDA Senior Pharmacist Aishath Jaleela stated that they are currently working on bringing in the ADHD medicine for children named Methylphenidate back into the country.

Doctors have also been complaining about the lack of Methylphenidate, as per Jaleela. She went on to say that even though doctor's would prescribe the medicine, the issue begins afterwards due to the medication not being allowed into the country.

"Methylphenidate is a scientifically proven medicine that is used as a first-line treatment for ADHD. However, it is difficult for people with the mental disorder to acquire it due to Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the Drugs Act containing the medicine," she stated.

"Two annexes contain the medicine. The molecule in the medicine is heavily controlled internationally when importing to Maldives. The issue lies in trying to get the approval of importing the medicine."

Annex 1 of the Drugs Act lists Methylphenidate as a drug that is barred from being imported. Annex 2 states that it is used as a drug that intoxicates individuals.

Jaleela stated that MFDA has done significant work looking into amending the Drugs Act due to the problems surrounding Methylphenidate and its import. Amendments such as removing Methylphenidate from Annex 1 of the Drugs Act and moving it to be included only in Annex 2 was highlighted when they approached the Parliament on 13th July 2025, Jaleela went on to say.

Jaleela also said that Methylphenidate needs to be identified as a critical medication and that it is also included in the Maldives Essential Medical List.

Jaleela also outlined the inability to acquire various psychiatric medications for affected patients, and that steps need to be taken to bring in those types of medications as well.