In a statement last night, Maldives Medical Association said that, except in rare cases, doctors typically write the generic or original names of medicines on prescriptions. However, doctors may choose a particular brand if it is more suitable for the patient.
Maldives Medical Association has responded to claims that the unavailability of certain medicines is due to doctors prescribing specific brands.
In a statement released last night, Maldives Medical Association said that, except in rare cases, doctors typically write the generic or original names of medicines on prescriptions. However, they also noted that doctors may choose a particular brand if it is deemed more suitable for the patient's needs.
For example, they said that if a patient has an allergy to a particular brand, doctors may prescribe an alternative brand. The association emphasized that doctors have the right to prescribe a preferred brand, especially if it is considered more effective or suitable for the patient, and they stand by that right.
The statement also expressed that MMA's support for the government's and Aasandha's efforts to ensure the availability of medicines for the public.
The association said that STO, the company responsible for importing medicines into the Maldives said that when prescriptions specify a particular brand of medicine, it can make obtain said medication difficult for the public.
While the Maldives' approved drug list includes around 4,000 types of medicines, doctors sometimes prescribe medication which are not registered, making it harder for patients to obtain them, STO said earlier.
STO assured that if a critical medication is missing from the list and there are repeated complaints, efforts would be made to have it registered and imported.
To address these concerns, a meeting was held between STO, the Doctors' Union, and the Maldives Medical Association to discuss ways to improve the accessibility of essential medicines and ensure a more efficient system for medicine distribution.
Sign In