The relevant committee of the Parliament has passed a motion stating it is in favor of ending the prohibition on importing Methylphenidate, a crucial medication for children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Following a letter sent by the Member for North Galolhu, Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), regarding the ban on Methylphenidate, the most essential medication for children with ADHD, the President’s Office responded to the Parliament stating that the Cabinet has reached a significant decision to find a solution to the issue.

In the letter signed and sent to the Parliament by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, it was stated that after discussing the advice provided by the National Drug Control Council regarding these concerns within the Cabinet, it was decided last month to remove Methylphenidate from the list of drugs prohibited in the Maldives.

The President’s letter requested the Parliament to reach a decision on the matter, as parliamentary consent is required before making changes to that list in accordance with the Cabinet's decision.

After discussing the matter in today's meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee), the members who participated in the meeting passed a motion by a unanimous vote to end the prohibition on the medication.

Methylphenidate cannot be imported into the Maldives because it is categorized as a type of narcotic drug in the list defined under the Drug Act.

Methylphenidate is a scientifically sound medication used as a first-line treatment for ADHD. However, in Schedule 1 of the Drug Act, the medication was included in the list of substances prohibited for import into the Maldives, while Schedule 2 contains narcotic substances that can be used for medicinal purposes.

MFDA also requested the Parliament last year to remove the medication from that list.