Pharmacies run by the State Trading Organization (STO) will shut down for three days starting Wednesday.

The pharmacies will be closed on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of this month to conduct the inventory count needed for the transition of pharmacy operations to the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation Limited.

STO stated that medications will be accessible in emergencies and recommended that customers reach out to its representatives if necessary.

After the handover is finalized, the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation will assume responsibility for all pharmacy services, encompassing the importation and distribution of medications in the Maldives.

STO stated that over 500 employees now engaged in pharmacy operations will be moved to the new company.

Recently, there have been numerous reports concerning the shortage of prescription medications in Male' City. The government created a specific pharmaceutical firm to tackle these issues and eliminate the shortages. The company only started importing pharmaceuticals in April, half a year after its establishment.

The lack of medications has now turned into a continual public issue. Numerous individuals claim they must go to several pharmacies without locating the medications they require, and occasionally, they have to pay considerably out of pocket for medicines not included under Aasandha.