Dolakha, October 22

Almost all government health facilities in Dolakha have been reeling under shortage of  medicines as the concerned authority has yet to procure medicines even though government had released the budget for the purpose some three months ago.

The medicine crisis has hit district-based health facilities, including district hospital. Health workers complained that the authority concerned has yet to forward the process for procuring medicines. A patient from Gaurishankar Rural Municipality died recently for want of medicine. They said health facilities in the district had run out of medicines.

It is said that the local level staffers and elected representatives did not follow the directives of the ministry. The ministry has directed local levels to send essential drugs to health facilities before Dashain festival.

Meanwhile, Chief Kameshwor Chaurasiya at District Health Office, Dolakha, said his office could not say anything as the budget had already reached the local levels for buying medicines. He said he had already directed resource person Damber Thokar at the office to submit details of the drugs which were in short supply in the health facilities. “We will call for tender after we receive details,” he added.