The State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Company has launched a 24-hour service, introducing both a digital portal and a dedicated hotline to improve public access to medicines.

In its first statement since being established in September, the company said the hotline, 1505 will allow the public to order essential medicines and seek assistance when facing difficulties in obtaining them.

Alongside the hotline, the company has also introduced an online portal, enabling users to request medicines and track their applications.

The platform is integrated with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) system, allowing applications submitted through both channels to be processed more efficiently. The portal also provides updated information on medicine requests and collection.

The initiative comes amid concerns over limited access to essential medications for various illnesses, with the new company established as part of efforts to address the issue.

Previously, the supply of medicines in the Maldives was managed through State Trading Organization (STO). With the formation of the new pharmaceutical company, those responsibilities have now been transferred.