Pharmacies falsely claim Aasandha unavailable, charge exorbitant prices

A case has emerged in Male' City, where three pharmacies reportedly charged up to MVR 240 per a medicine, falsely asserting that Aasandha, the national health insurance scheme, does not cover the cost.

This issue highlights broader complaints regarding the scarcity and high pricing of essential medicines in local pharmacies.

Dr. Abdul Azeez Hameed, a general practitioner, recently shared his personal experience, underscoring the severity of the problem. Dr. Azeez recounted his struggle to procure Thyronome, a medication regularly required by his six-year-old son, who lives with Down syndrome, autism, and hypothyroidism.

He noted that the State Trading Organization (STO)'s Henveiru pharmacy did not have the drug in stock. Upon visiting other pharmacies near ADK Hospital, he was informed that Thyronome was not available under Aasandha. While one pharmacy quoted MVR 90 for the drug, subsequent inquiries at others revealed significantly higher prices, reaching MVR 195 and even MVR 240 for a bottle of 120 pills. Dr. Azeez vehemently criticized these practices as "very deplorable things."

Dr. Azeez's social media post garnered considerable attention, with many expressing concern over the limited access to essential medications. It was also highlighted that the same drug is considerably cheaper in India, costing approximately Rs 185 (MVR 32) at Apollo Pharmacy.

In response to these concerns, STO Hulhumale' Pharmacy confirmed to Sun that a bottle of Thyronome-50 is available at their outlet for MVR 94.70.

Aasandha has also addressed the matter. Via their Facebook page, the company affirmed that "Thyronome 25 micrograms" is indeed covered under the Aasandha scheme and is routinely dispensed by numerous pharmacies. The company urged the public to report any instances of pharmacies refusing to provide such medicines under Aasandha to 'Shikaavathi Chatline' (via 7951400 via Viber, WhatsApp, or Telegram) along with relevant pharmacy details.

Despite a promising agreement signed on May 8 between STO and HLL Lifecare Limited, a subsidiary of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aimed at ensuring a continuous supply of affordable medicines to the Maldives, a scarcity of basic medications persists.

Furthermore, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives in July, another drug agreement was formalized between the two nations, which the Maldivian Ministry of Health stated would facilitate access to quality and affordable medicines from India.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has previously acknowledged the presence of a "medical mafia" in the Maldives, pledging to regulate medicine prices. He also vowed to address the deliberate withholding of essential medicines by importers, which he attributed to recent changes within the Aasandha scheme.