Health Ministry issues circular for opening state-run pharmacies

Kathmandu / Oct 13: Ministry of Health has issued instructions to its subordinate central, regional, sub regional, zonal and district level hospitals to operate their own pharmacies in adherence to the Pharmacy Guideline.

The Ministry reasoned that patients were forced to pay inordinate prices for the medicines when the hospitals did not run their own pharmacies.

Health Ministry has issued a circular with a deadline directing the subordinate hospitals to start running pharmacies within the next six months.

Minister for Health, Gagan Kumar Thapa, said the Ministry has directed the hospitals within its aegis to run their own pharmacies, and assured of monitoring its compliance.

The Department of Drug Administration introduced the Pharmacy Guideline five years ago, but its enforcement has not been effective under unwarranted pressure from the private pharmacies.

Unregistered pharmacies to be cancelled out

Minister Thapa has vowed to close down the unregistered pharmacies running without any regulations.

The Minister added that after he assumed office, 286 pharmacies have been inspected out of which 20 were closed down, 21 suspended and 45 more subjected to other actions. More than 60,000 pharmacies are under operation in the country.

The Minister also shared that a guideline is under preparation for regulating the medical supplies’ quality, and expressed belief its enactment would streamline and insure the management of quality of the medical supplies.

Medicine purchase process starts

The Ministry has announced tender for purchase of medicines for cost-free distribution. Minister Thapa said the tender announcement at the central level was done on October 2 and purchase process has started in 33 districts with the process due to start in remainder of the districts within mid October.

Work Execution Evaluation agreement starts

The Ministry has also started sealing Work Execution Evaluation (WEE) agreement with chiefs of its subordinate bodies.

Minister Thapa said such agreements will be held with all the chiefs within the Ministry and its subordinate bodies. RSS