Chitwan, March 1

Seventh Nepal Pharma and Health Expo 2019 has kicked off in Chitwan’s Bharatpur today.

The three-day expo being organised by Nepal Drugs’ Producers’ Association was inaugurated by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Yadav stressed on the need for the country to become self-reliant in the production of life saving drugs.

“Nepal can be independent in drugs production if all of us, including the government and private entrepreneurs, come together for the same,” the minister said.

“In fact I’m happy to inaugurate this expo that has emerged as a platform for exchanging ideas and technology and learning that we export our medicines to other countries,” said the minister, conveying the government willingness to help the drugs producers.

“Let’s stop wasting our productive energy on unproductive agitations and focus on production; the government is ready to give priority to domestic entrepreneurs in this sector,” Yadav said, adding the government was ready to make the official process hassle-free if need be.

Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vice-chairperson Umeshraj Shrestha, however, accused the government of failing to give enough attention to the medicine production sector.

“As the country is yet to get rid of the old industrial policy, the same has been the biggest hindrance to the healthy growth of medicine-producing companies. So there should be changes as per the time,” he said.

Other speakers also spoke on the occasion. Nepal has a total of 99 industries including 57 allopathic drug producing companies and   42 ayurvedic drugs producing companies.   Allopathic and ayurvedic medicines worth around Rs 41 billion is consumed in Nepal annually.