Nazim: Europe origin is not key; quality of medicine more important than manufacturing nation

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, on Thursday, remarked that the quality of medicines should not be judged solely by whether they are manufactured in European countries, emphasizing that the government’s priority is to procure verified, high-quality pharmaceuticals regardless of their origin.

Responding to a question from a journalist during a press conference held at the President's Office, Minister Nazim clarified that the quality of medicine does not necessarily need to meet “European standards” in a geographic sense. Instead, he explained that the government’s policy is focused on ensuring that the Maldives has access to verified high-quality medication.

The Minister noted that high-quality medicines are also produced in countries such as India and Bangladesh, stressing that the government prioritizes product quality rather than manufacturing country.

"Many medicines imported into Europe are also manufactured in India, Pakistan, or other regions. What matters is not the location or the country of manufacture; it is our responsibility to ensure that we procure quality-assured medication," the Minister said.

Minister Nazim further stated that the government is working to establish a robust system capable of guaranteeing that citizens have access to quality medicines.

The government announced the commencement of procuring medicines authorized by health authorities in European countries as part of efforts to ensure the availability of premium-quality pharmaceuticals in the Maldives on July 22, 2024.

In a joint statement issued by the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Aasandha Company Limited, Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), and State Trading Organization (STO), the government has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to initiate bulk procurement of high-quality medicines through a pooled procurement system to honor the pledge of President Mohamed Muizzu to bring high-quality medicine to the country.

The statement read that initiative will help ensure the continued availability of all essential medicines in the Maldives. Medicines obtained through this mechanism are procured directly from manufacturers, thereby maintaining safety and integrity throughout the supply chain—from production to patient delivery.

“Under this policy, products that have been approved for importation in the Maldives and will be approved for importation in the future must either be WHO-listed, registered with a stringent regulatory authority or must meet the quality standards of UNDP and MFDA,” the authorities said.

The result of this, as per the authorities, is that only medications approved for use by health authorities in European nations being available in the Maldives.

Concerns regarding access to high-quality medicines, as well as the occasional importation of drugs containing dangerous substances, have been raised by the public in the past. MFFDA has issued warnings against the use of certain medicines commonly prescribed by Maldivians due to such quality concerns.