The Maldives National Party (MNP) has submitted a motion to the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) alleging that the unavailability of an essential Thalassemia medication, Desferal, was caused due the negligence of the government.
In the letter submitted to the Parliament today signed by MNP’s President, Mohamed Nazim, the party said it had come to the attention of the complaints of Thalassemia patients and their families about unavailability of Desferal.
Upon checking further, it has been confirmed that the available stock of Desferal in the Maldivian market has expired and the medicine is now unavailable, the letter said.
The MNP has submitted the matter to the parliamentary committee saying that it is the responsibility of the government to make arrangements to ensure the prevention of a situation in which Desferal runs out of stock and becomes unavailable.
Therefore, the MNP has requested the Government Oversight Committee of Parliament to make arrangements for Desferal as soon as possible and to take necessary steps to regulate the affairs of the relevant agencies to prevent such a situation from happening again. The MNP has also requested the government to investigate the issue of unavailability of Desferal and take necessary action.
The MNP said that the fact that the Ministry of Health and the National Thalassemia Center have not responded to questions raised by the media in the issue shows the government’s negligence in the matter.
MNP has announced the party’s decision to compete in the upcoming presidential election and has begun the campaign for it. The party has nominated its president, the Member of Parliament for Dhangethi Constituency, Mohamed Nazim. One of the most notable promises is in the health sector. It is to eliminate the difference of position and status in accessing health service and to make healthcare services equally accessible to everyone.
MNP has launched their presidential campaign under the name “Ujaala Zamaan” and has now launched their manifesto.
