KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health has issued instructions to its subordinate central, regional, sub-regional, zonal and district level government 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.

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

Speaking with the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Minister for Health, Gagan Thapa, said the Ministry directed the hospitals under its aegis to run own pharmacies. He also assured of monitoring its compliance.

The Department of Drug Administration had 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 meanwhile has vowed to close down the unregistered pharmacies running without any regulation.

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

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

The Minister also shared that the Ministry was preparing a guideline for regulating the medical supplies' quality, and expressed his belief that its enactment would streamline and ensure the quality of the medical supplies.