Wednesday 11 Nov 2026
Inside the State Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Corporation Limited (StatePharma)'s Hulhumale' warehouse, November 10, 2026. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Shathiu Abdulla)
A pilot project to transport medicines using drones is set to be tested during the first quarter of 2027, with plans to expand the service nationwide if the trial proves successful, Ahmed Imaad Raashid, Chief Commercial Officer of StatePharma, said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters during a briefing at StatePharma's main warehouse in Hulhumale', Imaad said the company is exploring the use of drone technology to improve the delivery of medicines between locations across the country.
He said the pilot project will be assessed during the first quarter of next year, after which StatePharma aims to determine whether the service can be expanded across the Maldives.
Imaad also outlined plans to establish regional warehouses in five regions next year. He said the new facilities would strengthen the pharmaceutical supply network and significantly improve the logistics of delivering medicines to islands.
"At present, we operate two warehouses in Hulhumale'. The regional warehouse network will greatly ease the logistics of supplying medicines to the islands," he said.
Despite various challenges encountered following the transfer of pharmaceutical operations to StatePharma on July 1, Imaad said the company has prioritised maintaining uninterrupted services.
According to Imaad, systems introduced in April have enabled the company to identify medicine shortages across the country. Based on the information gathered, planning and procurement teams are working continuously to replenish stocks of essential medicines.
He said a large number of shipments are already being received and expressed confidence that medicine stocks would improve significantly by the end of November.
Highlighting warehouse operations, Imaad said the Hulhumale' facility currently processes at least 200 orders daily. The warehouse operates in two shifts until 10:00 pm to expedite the dispatch of medicines and medical supplies.
He added that StatePharma is introducing advanced technological systems to reduce reliance on manual processes and accelerate inventory tagging and distribution.
The company is also compiling a dedicated database to address shortages of medicines used for chronic illnesses. Imaad said information on unavailable long-term medications will also be shared with the public.
He further noted that regulatory and supply chain challenges affecting the import of pharmaceutical products are being addressed, adding that the Ministry of Health and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority aim to facilitate imports within two weeks.
Imaad said private companies account for approximately 70 percent of the country's pharmaceutical market, while STO and StatePharma account for the remaining 30 percent. He stressed that the company's priority remains ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines to the public.
