Heads of State Pharma face possible Parliament summons over difficulty in accessing ADHD medication

North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) has asked for head of State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation and other relevant agencies to be summoned to the Parliament’s Social Affairs Committee for questioning regarding difficulties in accessing medication for ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

In a letter on Wednesday addressed to Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Kudu said that families with children with ADHD are facing huge challenges due to lack of continued access to methylphenidate - a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy by increasing focus and decreasing restlessness.

Kudu said that while the medicine is on the national essential medicines list, access to it remains difficult, disrupting healthcare and denying children with ADHD from an essential service they require to improve their quality of life.

“Methylphenidate is being provided in line with international standards as the first-line medication [for ADHD] even in some of our neighboring countries. A large number of children being forced to travel to neighboring countries due to lack of access to the treatment from here is a great burden on families,” he wrote.

Kudu asked for top officials of the State Pharma, Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) as well as the members of the core committee in involved in compiling and reviewing the essential medicine list, and the technical exports who contributed to it, to be questioned by the relevant parliamentary committee to gain a better understanding of the issue and work towards resolving it.