Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 4:

Population Service International (PSI) launched its new range of reproductive health products. The new OK range of products consists of OK-3 (a three month injectable contraceptive), OK-1 (a once a month injection), OK Pills (a low-dose pill), OK pills for breastfeeding mothers, OK condoms, OK IUCD and SURE home pregnancy test kit. Similarly, Postinor-2, a niche product to be used to prevent unintended pregnancy was also unveiled at the programme.

Some of the reproductive health products are completely new for the Nepali market. To ensure easy access to low-income consumers, the products will be sold at subsidised prices in the Nepali market. The products will be distributed through Sun Quality Network. Dr Y V Pradhan, director at Family and Health Division (FHD), unveiled products at a programme in Kathmandu today.

“The main aim of PSI is to ensure that every Nepali can afford to buy high-quality health products, manufactured by leading pharmaceuticals,” said Steven Honeyman, country representative for PSI International. Nepal is among one of the three leading countries in the region to provide a wider range of family planning products, Honeyman added. He also said that PSI believes in promoting its products through social marketing and social franchising.

Kokila Vaidya, chief technical advisor at PSI Nepal, said that private sector plays an important role in helping the government to achieve its goals in health sector. The product launched by PSI consists of emergency contraceptives which are introduced in Nepal for the first time, she said.

These are safe and effective products that can ensure family planning programme, she added. Chief guest at the programme, B D Chataut, director general at the Department of Health Service, said that the eight products launched today will help in promoting health and family planning issues of poor Nepalis. “The programme is the demonstration of the strong bind between ministry of health and private organisations, NGOs and INGOs which are helping the government in the health sector to reach the government motto,” Chataut said. Chataut also gave away the certificate of appreciation to different organisations that helped in promoting PSI products. Speaking at the programme, Dr Pradhan said that 61 per cent of Nepalis do not use contraceptives and only nine per cent use contraceptives during premarital sex. So these products could be a gateway to prevent unwanted situations.