Kathmandu, May 7

After having remained shut for almost a decade, Nepal Drugs Ltd (NDL) — a state-owned enterprise — has again started operations.

NDL started producing drugs from today as per the Good Manufacturing Practices of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Minister for Industry, Nabindra Raj Joshi, who took a lead to bring NDL into operation, inaugurated the event today.

The government has decided to inject Rs 146.5 million as credit to bring back NDL into operation and prepare drugs as per the WHO standard. The government has so far released Rs 64.8 million to NDL. The state-owned enterprise started producing ‘Jeevan Jal’ from today. It is reported that NDL will also start producing paracetamol tablets and other drugs of non-penicillin group within three months as the procurement process of the required machines for the purpose is in the last phase.

Nepal Drugs has planned to produce 15 different types of drugs in the second phase, which include capsules, penicillin and ointments. It will also start producing saline and haemodialysis fluid after setting up an intravenous fluid section.

During the inauguration, Minister Joshi said that the government has set an aim to produce 70 types of drugs that the government distributes through the public health posts across the country.

Established in 1972, Nepal Drugs Ltd has a pretty long history in drug production in the country and it used to produce 120 types of drugs in the past. It had remained shut since 2009.