Among the drug stores in Kathmandu Valley, it is reported that most of the drug stores have not been renewed. Till now, out of 14 thousand 500 registered medicine shops in the Valley, only 5 thousand 783 have been renewed. As mentioned in the 59th report of the Auditor General that drug sellers who do not renew should be prosecuted by law.
There are a total of 31 thousand 181 medicine sellers in Nepal. But it has been found that the drug administration department has monitored the sellers in a very small amount compared to the registered drug sellers.
The department monitored and inspected 645 drug vendors out of which 56 drug vendors were suspended. There are 165 Nepali pharmaceutical industries and 240 pharmaceutical importers in Nepal.
Out of those monitored by the department, 45 have been prosecuted and the production of 7 pharmaceutical industries has been stopped. The department tested 729 drug samples. Similarly, laboratory testing of 6 industries and 135 drug importing firms were monitored.
Till now there is no system related to pharmaceutical waste management in Nepal. No procedures have been made regarding the non-use of expired medicines by drug manufacturers and sellers and hospitals. The drug management department has not made any procedure for the proper management of drugs that are broken or cannot be used due to other conditions.
As it is seen that drugs such as anti-cancer drugs that cannot be used can be more dangerous, it is necessary to monitor them by making appropriate arrangements for the management of drug-related waste.
Similarly, the prices of all the medicines with fixed prices should be made public. It has been found that the department has determined the prices of 144 types of medicines till this year, but only 117 types of medicines have been published in the gazette.
READ ALSO:
