Far-west reeling under drugs shortage

Dipayal, October 28

The protracted Madhes agitation has caused an acute shortage of essential drugs in government and private health facilities in the far-west region.

Health workers complained that shortage of essential drugs is taking a heavy toll on patients in the region.

A source at the Far-western Regional Medical Store, Dhangadhi, said all medical facilities in the region were reeling under medicine crunch as the centre has failed to supply drugs due to the ongoing Tarai agitation.

Store Chief Laxmi Kumar Shrestha said ongoing agitation had obstructed the supply of drugs. “We have not been able to bring in medicines from the centre due to obstruction by the agitators at various places,” Shrestha added.

The store has run out of BCG vaccination syringe, iron pills, jeevan jal, condoms and other essential medicines. Shrestha said his office had not been able to supply drugs to Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Dadeldhura, Bajura, Baitadi, Achham, Bajhang and Darchula.

Far-western Regional Health Directorate, Dipayal, said nine districts in the region were facing an acute shortage of medicines.

Regional Health Director Parsuram Shrestha admitted that health facilities in the region were running out of essential medicines. Health assistant Harish Shah at the District Health Office, Doti said his office had not been able to supply drugs to health posts and health centres in the district.

Chief of the District Public Health Office, Kailali, Rajendra Prasad Khatri said ongoing agitation had affected supply of drugs. Khatri added that fuel shortage has hard hit health centres in the district.