Kathmandu, November 26:

Medicine manufacturing companies are hopeful that some 60 per cent of Nepali pharmaceutical companies will be able to obtain WHO Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance certificate by mid-April 2007.

“About 60 per cent of the pharmaceutical companies operating in Nepal will be able to get WHO compliance certificate within the stipulated time of Chaitra 31, 2063 BS,” said Sano Kaji Shrestha, vice president of Association of Nepal Pharmaceutical Producers Nepal (APPON).

Four years ago, the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) had informally instructed all pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to abide by the WHO GMP guidelines by the end of 2063 BS (mid-April 2007).

So far, only eight of the 40 companies in Nepal have obtained the compliance certificate and six others are engaged in upgrading.

“We have found that all companies are willing to comply with the guideline, but investment is one of the disturbing factors,” he said.

The DDA is committed to make it mandatory that all pharmaceutical companies in Nepal meet the global standards. “Any company is subjected to a set of regulations,” said Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, director general of the DDA.