Citizens of the Maldives are speaking out, claiming that they are being forced to beg for prescriptions as essential medicines remain unavailable at State Trading Organization (STO).

The people have been saying that the situation has deteriorated to a point where they have go from pharmacy to pharmacy with their prescriptions, due to lack of medicines available at STO pharmacies.

Those expressing opinions regarding the crisis have highlighted that the issue of medicine stocks running low at STO pharmacies has become very prevalent, and as a result, people have to go to several places to find medicines, wasting time and money.

In a post on social media platform ‘X’ regarding the time spent at an STO pharmacy, a member of the public said that three elderly people had left without getting their medicines. They also said that out of the four medicines in their prescription, two were not available, and that this was not something that used to happen at STO pharmacies before. They further noted that they don't see the health system progressing to a tertiary level.

Earlier, complaints mounted as people were forced to purchase medicines that were supposed to be covered through the national health insurance scheme Aasandha and STO, with many essential medicines remaining out of stock.

In a video shared by a concerned member of the public along with their complaints, it was revealed that Probiotic capsules had been available in the Maldives. After consulting a doctor at Tree Top Hospital and visiting the pharmacy, they were informed that the medicine was unavailable through Aasandha and were directed to the STO pharmacy instead. However, the individual said that the medicine was not available at the STO pharmacy either, and that the medicine is no longer available in the Maldives through Aasandha. The person who shared the video also stressed that STO pharmacy had told them that if the medicine is to be obtained through Aasandha, it would have to be imported from abroad.

Although STO has not issued a statement regarding the matter so far, senior employees of the company have said that efforts are being made to resolve the issue of medicine stock depletion.

This issue has become a matter of grave concern for many citizens, and many are calling for a quick solution. This is creating significant difficulties, particularly for those who rely on regular medicines.

While the general public is noting that the health situation in the country is deteriorating day by day, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s administration spent  MVR 2.2 billion on Aasandha and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) in 2023, while President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government has spent MVR 2.4 billion in 2024. Despite Muizzu's government spending an additional MVR 200 million, many people are saying that Maldivian citizens have to beg for prescriptions.