DHANGADHI: Heath institutions in the Far-Western Region have been reeling under acute shortage of essential medicines due to the ongoing agitations taking place in various parts of Tarai region for the past one month.

"We could have brought the medicines by air courier service, had the medicines been in a low volume," said Laxmi Kumar Shrestha, Chief of the Far-Western Medical Store, Dhangadhi.

He said that the Far-Western Medical Store has been facing shortage of BCG vaccine, iron tablets, oral rehydration solution and condom among others for the past 10 days.

Shrestha informed that the store was not able to supply medicines to various districts owing to the shortage of medicines.

Parshuram Shrestha, Director of the Far-Western Regional Health Office, informed that the health institutions have also been facing shortage of medicines which were available free of cost.

He said that the situation would be worst if the bandh continues.

Rajendra Prasad Khatri, Chief of the District Public Health Office, Kailali said that the bandh has directly affected the health institutions.