KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 25
Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, addressed the government's ongoing efforts to monitor and rectify anomalies in the pharmacy sector, emphasizing the need for reforms.
Speaking at a program organized by the Nepal Pharmaceutical Association on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day, he urged the relevant authorities to take the sensitivity of the pharmacy sector seriously and directed them to redouble their reform initiatives.
During his speech, the minister highlighted the issues uncovered during their monitoring efforts, including instances where pharmacies were dispensing pesticides instead of medicines.
He expressed disappointment that the expected reforms in the pharmacy sector had not materialized, emphasizing the continuation of actions to address these concerns. He encouraged pharmacists to focus on improving the quality of pharmacy services.
Minister Basnet also raised concerns about some pharmacists delegating their duties to non-pharmacists, sometimes distributing medicines without a doctor's prescription. He called for collective efforts to eliminate these anomalies from the sector.
He noted that the number of pharmacists employed did not align with the number of pharmacies, leading to challenges. On this occasion, the Association honored Minister Basnet for his efforts to enhance the pharmacy sector. Vice President Tak BK of the Association commended Minister Basnet's work and called for local-level registration and renewal of pharmacies.
Pharmacists present at the event expressed concerns about non-pharmacists running pharmacies and the absence of permanent quotas for pharmacists, proper pharmacy education, effective monitoring and evaluation, and government support for upgrading pharmacy practices.
Narayan Prasad Dhakal, Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, stressed the importance of adhering to the standards set by the Department and urged immediate action for reforms in the pharmacy sector. Prajwal Jung Pandey, President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, advocated for the development of digital pharmacy.
World Pharmacists Day is celebrated annually on September 25, with various programs taking place across Nepal. This year's theme is 'Pharmacy strengthening health systems.' Nepal currently boasts a total of 18,000 pharmacists.
