NRNA provides medicines worth Rs 12 million; Govt. preparing to import medicines through fast track

Kathmandu/ December 4: The Non Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) has been putting balm in the wound of fellow Nepali people at a time they were hardly hit by the undeclared blockade imposed by India. At a time when the country is suffering from scarcity of goods including lifesaving medicines, the NRNA provided medicines worth around Rs 12.5 million to the government to deal with the shortage in the wake of the India’s undeclared blockade and continuing agitation in Tarai plain.

The NRNA had provided medicines worth Rs 3.8 million to the government on November 24 in the first phase while it provided Rs 2.5 million worth medicines to regional hospitals in Janakpur, Birgunj and Butwal. The Association distributed the medicines to the hospitals at their respective administrative offices after an agreement with the government and the support of Nepal Army.

It also provided the medicines worth Rs 9 million to the government on Friday. Association’s President Shesh Ghale handed over the medicines to Minister for Health and Population Ram Janam Chaudhari amidst a programme held at the Department of Health Service at Teku of the capital city.

The medicines were handed over as per the necessary list provided by the hospitals and the government. On the occasion, NRNA President Ghale said that the association was committed to extending necessary support to Nepal at this difficult situation. He added that the additional medicines of Rs 1.2 million purchased in Bangladesh would arrive in Kathmandu within the next week.

The Association has stated that it is supporting the motherland Nepal at the time of crisis with the main mantra ‘Nepali for Nepal’.

NRNA of different countries have been playing important role to publicize the blockade imposed by India in the international level. India has been imposing blockade to Nepal after Nepal promulgated new constitution through democratically elected Constituent Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population is preparing to import medicines through the fast track in the wake of the unofficial blockade by India and the ongoing protest in the Tarai, resulting in acute shortage of goods and medicines.

Spokesperson at the ministry Mahendra Bahadur Shrestha said that a meeting of directors and administrators of various health organisations and office bearers of the ministry held today decided to this effect.

“We are holding consultations with directors of all big government health organisations on the matter. We have decided to fast-track the import of medicines, following the complaints from some hospitals that the store they have at present lasts only some more days,” he said.

He informed that the ministry was preparing to import medicines from some organisations including World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and countries including Thailand and Oman. (With inputs from RSS)