Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 27:

Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, chief of the Department of Drug Administration, today said the department is trying to phase out from Nepal those products of international drug firms which fail to meet standards. “In the case of national companies, we will cancel the license of that particular product if it is found to be of poor quality. In the case of foreign companies, we will keep a ban on all products of those companies,” he said at a discussion organised by the Consumer Rights’ Protection Forum Nepal (CRPFN). Thapa blamed incomplete Acts governing drug control for allowing the situation to deteriorate. “A comprehensible Drugs Act is needed to address these problems and protect people’s health,” he said.

He laid emphasis on consumer awareness in order to control drugs that are not health friendly. “Consumer awareness is very significant for protect their rights,” he stressed. He asked all the social and civil organisations working in the field of consumerism to raise the level of awareness among people. Thapa informed that the drug sales volume fetches about Rs 6 billion annually. Of this, foreign companies cover deals worth Rs 4 billion. Baburam Humagain, president of Nepal Pharmacists’ Association, argued for control of drug prices. He pointed out that there was were vast differences in the price of the same drug being sold in different parts of the country. Humagain added that consumers too were confused and unable to decide which varieties of drugs to opt for, as drugs are not common goods.