Kathmandu, December 2

The Ministry of Health has written to all concerned agencies asking them to initiate immediate legal action against unregistered health institutions.

As per ‘Establishment, Operation, and Upgradation Standards of Health Institutions Directives, 2014’, it is mandatory for health institutions to acquire licence to operate.

The ministry directed Nepal Medical Council, Nepal Nursing Council, Nepal Ayurved Council, Nepal Health Professional Council and Nepal Pharmacy Council to work together to take action against health institutions operating without acquiring licence.

Joint teams of the Ministry of Health, Department of Health Services, Department of Drug Administration, District Public Health Office and police sealed more than 45 clinics and pharmacies in Kathmandu Valley last month for operating without fulfilling requirements.

Some clinics and pharmacies were found selling drugs without hiring trained and certified pharmacists while others were operating without renewing their licence or registering with the DoDA.

The letter circulated by the ministry stated that mushrooming illegal health facilities had prompted it to initiate stern measures. Altogether, 607 hospitals, clinics and polyclinics are currently registered in the Kathamndu valley.

The ministry said some doctors and health workers were also found working in health institutions operating without obtaining licence or getting it renewed. “We issued directives to all of the concerned councils to check such practice and act tough against them,” read the letter.

The government has stepped up its efforts to prevent misuse or abuse of drugs and allied pharmaceutical substances and control sale, distribution, storage, and consumption of unsafe drugs, it said.