First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called for stronger regulatory cooperation between the Maldives and Pakistan to ensure public access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines.
She made the remarks during a visit to Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) in Islamabad, where she met senior management and officials. She is accompanying President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on his state visit to Pakistan.
The First Lady said access to reliable and quality-assured medicines remained a national priority for the Maldives, particularly given the challenges of providing healthcare across geographically dispersed islands.
She stressed the importance of scientific standards, strong regulatory institutions and international cooperation in maintaining public confidence in medicines.
The First Lady also acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding contribution to the Maldivian health sector, particularly through the deployment of medical professionals and the training of Maldivian doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
She said a memorandum of understanding on health cooperation, scheduled to be signed between the two countries on Wednesday, would provide opportunities for technical exchanges, capacity building and the sharing of regulatory best practices.
The First Lady emphasised that the success of the partnership should be measured by its tangible benefits for people and its contribution to more resilient healthcare systems.
She thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their continued support and commended DRAP officials for their work in protecting public health.
Before visiting DRAP, First Lady Sajidha also toured Pakistan’s National Institute of Health in Islamabad.