India has reinforced its healthcare partnership with the Maldives by committing to the continuous supply of essential medicines.
HLL Lifecare Limited, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, will handle the distribution, marking a significant step in bilateral healthcare collaboration.
The State Trading Organisation Plc (STO), a key Maldivian government enterprise responsible for essential imports, signed a strategic agreement with HLL Lifecare under India’s Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
This initiative aims to deliver affordable and high-quality medicines to the public.
This agreement ensures an uninterrupted and cost-effective supply of essential medicines across the Maldives.
Over the past year, the country has faced frequent shortages of vital pharmaceuticals, severely impacting patient care and burdening the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha.
By April, emergency imports restored the availability of 99% of essential medicines, but the STO acknowledged that temporary fixes could not guarantee long-term stability.
This new agreement converts short-term relief into a permanent, sustainable solution.
HLL Lifecare has demonstrated its reliability during critical times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it supplied the Maldives with crucial medical equipment and supplies, proving its ability to manage large-scale exports efficiently.
STO officials expressed confidence in HLL’s ability to meet both current demands and future healthcare needs, based on this successful history of collaboration.
Through this agreement, the Maldives will benefit from HLL’s extensive Janaushadhi network, which offers over 2,000 quality-assured generic medicines and 300 surgical products.
This move integrates the Maldives into one of the most efficient pharmaceutical supply chains in the world.
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, HLL Lifecare began as a contraceptive manufacturer under India’s Family Planning Programme.
Over the decades, it has evolved into a full-spectrum healthcare company, winning accolades from both the Indian government and international organisations.
Today, HLL employs nearly 10,000 individuals, including 3,900 direct employees and thousands of contract and laboratory staff.
The company supplies medical devices and medicines to institutions across 29 states and seven Union Territories.
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