Health centres to get streamlined access to key services

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that island health centres and hospitals will soon be able to communicate directly with the Ministry of Health, streamlining access to medicines and essential services.

Speaking to residents of Alif Dhaalu Maamigili during his tour of the atoll, the President said the current health system involves too many administrative layers.

One of the key reasons for establishing the new State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation, he said, was to resolve issues in the supply of medicines.

“With changes to the health system, health centres will be able to deal directly with the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Finance in the future,” President Muizzu said.

“Every health centre is in the process of establishing a direct communication system, whether it is for medicine, or finance.”

He added that work is ongoing to set up the necessary software systems and to train staff both in the islands and within the relevant ministries. The process, he said, is expected to be completed by January next year, in line with the implementation of the new budget.

“From the new year, all health centres and hospitals will be able to communicate directly with the relevant government agencies as separate institutions,” he said.

President Muizzu said the reform will remove unnecessary administrative layers, improving service delivery and easing access to medicine, recruitment, and other essential services.

The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited was established last month under powers granted to the president by Article 15 of the Companies Act.

Until now, the government’s medicine imports have been handled by the state owned STO.