Kathmandu, March 15:

Despite government’s regular market surveillance, malpractices continue to exist in Nepali drug market, said the participants of an interaction organised to mark World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) today.

Bharat Bahadur Thapa, secretary of the Ministry for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, pointed out the need to make amendment in existing acts and regulation to manage the market to protect the consumers from being duped.

The WCRD slogan for this year is Unethical Drug Promotion.

“Unless the consumers are concerned about the service and product they consume, they will be cheated by unscrupulous businessmen,” said Prem Lal Maharjan, president, National Consumers Forum. Umesh Lal Shrestha, president of Association of Pharmaceutical Producers Nepal claimed that Nepal is the country where the drug comes at the price lowest to the ground.

Hari Bhakta Sharma of Deurali Janata Pharmaceuticals said: “We better talk about quality of drugs, price comes the next.”

Navin Kumar Shrestha, chief drug administrator, Department of Drug, said: “We are working out on National Drug Policy.”