TAPLEJUNG: The Taplejung District Hospital is facing a shortage of essential medicines.

The government health facility has not received the cost-free medicines provided by the central authorities for the last five months.

The hospital does not have paracetamol and metronidazole tablets among other essential medicines. As the shortage has hit the district hospital itself, the concerned authorities have not been able to supply the medicines to the rural sector.

The hospital had purchased 33 types of medicines in the district to troubleshoot the crisis, but it is not a sustainable solution. Many patients in the district have been forced to seek treatment in neighbouring districts.

The government has been providing 70 different medicines free of charge from the district hospital while 58 medicines are provided via primary health centres and 35 medicines via various health posts.