State Pharmaceutical & Medical Supply Corporation Ltd (StatePharma) is working with global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to strengthen the supply of essential medicines and improve access to quality healthcare products across the Maldives.

Representatives from both organizations held a consultation meeting to discuss measures to ensure a more reliable and uninterrupted supply of medicines needed by the country's healthcare system.

StatePharma Managing Director Dr. Shah Mahir attended the meeting, while AstraZeneca was represented by Country Business Manager Abhishek Kaushik.

The discussions focused on developing a long-term partnership between the two organizations and identifying key areas where cooperation could contribute to the development of the Maldivian healthcare sector.

Ensuring consistent access to essential medicines was among the main priorities discussed.

StatePharma said providing high-quality medicines to the public remains one of its key objectives.

The company is therefore working with internationally recognized pharmaceutical manufacturers to strengthen the country's medicine supply chain and improve healthcare services.

AstraZeneca, which operates across more than 125 countries, is one of the world's major pharmaceutical companies.

StatePharma said cooperation with the company could play an important role in improving the availability of essential medicines in the Maldives.

The state-owned pharmaceutical supplier is also developing systems to forecast national medicine requirements and maintain sufficient inventories.

These measures are intended to reduce shortages and ensure that medicines remain available when needed.

In addition, StatePharma is developing storage facilities in different regions of the country to improve the distribution of medicines and make essential supplies more accessible to communities outside the capital.