STO pharmacies to close for three days as operations shift to State Pharma

Pharmacies operated by the State Trading Organization (STO) will be closed for three days from Wednesday.

The pharmacies will remain closed on the 24th, 25th and 26th of this month to continue the inventory count required for the transfer of pharmacy operations to the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation Limited.

However, STO said medicines will be made available in emergency situations, and advised customers to contact its representatives if needed.

Once the handover is complete, the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation will take over all pharmacy services, including the import and distribution of medicines in the Maldives.

STO said more than 500 employees currently involved in pharmacy operations will also be transferred to the new company.

There have been widespread complaints in recent days about the lack of prescription medicines in Male' City. The government established a dedicated pharmaceutical company to address these concerns and resolve the shortages. However, the company only began importing medicines in April, six months after it was formed.

The shortage of medicines has now become a persistent public concern. Many people report having to visit multiple pharmacies without finding the medicines they need, and in some cases, having to spend significantly out of pocket to purchase medicines not covered by Aasandha.