Stakeholders discuss easing import procedures for medicines, chemicals, and animals

Maldives Customs Service, on Saturday, has held discussions regarding resolving difficulties faced when importing goods such as medicine and chemicals.

Customs held a one-day forum with stakeholders to discuss challenges encountered in the import and export of goods in the Maldives.

The one-day forum saw participation over 60 representatives from the relevant government authorities and good clearance agents. According to Customs, the forum featured extensive discussions on challenges encountered in the import and export of goods in the Maldives.

In this regard, discussions focused on challenges in issuing permits for chemical imports and ways to address them, simplifying procedures for importing plants and animals, and easing policies related to permits for importing construction materials.

Difficulties in obtaining medicines have been a recurring concern raised by the public on social media. Despite repeated assurances from the government that the issue would be resolved, the problem persists.

In December, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim said medicine shortages in the Maldives had eased following an increase in both the volume and range of drugs imported by the State Trading Organisation, adding that conditions would further improve once the newly established state pharmaceutical company becomes fully operational.

Speaking on SSTV’s Baaru Hathareh programme, Nazim acknowledged that complaints about medicine shortages continue to surface on social media, despite the government previously announcing several deadlines to resolve the issue.

Nazim said changes brought to the Aasandha system had affected the pricing of medicines, prompting the government to expand STO’s role in importing essential drugs.

STO, which is already a 100 percent state‑owned company, currently imports and sells medicines, medical consumables and equipment in bulk, and operates pharmacies across all inhabited islands.