Pharmacies have been granted six months by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) to adhere to a newly established two-tier classification system and guarantee the accessibility of essential medications needed for each category.

On Wednesday, the MFDA announced that the inventory of essential medicines required in pharmacies has been assessed and revised. The authority stated that the initiative intends to guarantee ongoing availability of essential medications for the population.

The MFDA has split the list of essential medicines into two groups. Current pharmacies must supply a minimum of 80 percent of the medications prescribed for their designated category within six months from Wednesday. Pharmacies that have recently opened will obtain their operating license only after fulfilling all medication criteria within the applicable category.

The authority indicated that specifics regarding the pharmacy classification are found in the Guidelines on Minimum Requirements for Essential Medicines in Pharmacies. The guidelines can be accessed on the MFDA site, the Ministry of Health site, and the Dhirithi portal. Additional details can be acquired by contacting the MFDA's Medicine and Therapeutic Goods hotline at 7200321.

The government has created a new entity, State Pharma, to address the ongoing issue of medicine shortages in the Maldives. Yet, worries persist that the challenges in accessing key medications have not been sufficiently addressed since the company's establishment.