The CEO of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Heena Waleed, said today that they have reduced the prices of 250 medicines in collaboration with STO.

In a meeting held today with the Social Affairs Committee of the People's Majlis, where NSPA officials were summoned regarding a submitted issue, Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, MP for South Hulhumale' constituency, asked about the issue of pharmacies charging exorbitant prices for medicines covered by Aasandha, suggesting that STO should control medicine prices. In response, Heena said that they are reducing medicine prices through bulk procurement.

However, Heena said that many pharmacies have not accepted the changes brought to the medicine list by the government to reduce prices, and are not implementing them.

"We are still noticing that some pharmacies are objecting to selling medicines at the government's medicine list prices. However, these medicines will be available through Aasandha at all STO pharmacies," she said.

Heena said that medicine prices in the Maldives are beyond the reach of citizens. She stated that compared to regional countries, medicines are being sold at 15 times higher prices in the Maldives. She noted that it has been observed that medicines are being sold with profits ranging from 300% to 4000%.