KAPILVASTU: Even after the unofficial border blockade imposed by India is over, Kapilvastu district is reeling under a severe shortage of medicines.

The over-five-month border blockade had restricted the supply of goods and medicines into Nepal, creating a severe shortage of life-saving drugs.

As a result, around 80 health institutions including three government health facilities lack medicines including general medicines like oral rehydration solutions.

The health facilities say that they have only limited stock of medicines like cetamol, iron pills and medicines prescribed to cure leprosy and tuberculosis among others.

Moreover, the District Public Health Office (DPHO) lacks storage of medicines, thus is stopping distribution to various health facilities across the district.

As a result of this, patients of various diseases visiting health facilities in the district for treatment are forced to return empty-handed, while those patients visiting from faraway places are hit the hardest.

There are instances of patients, who can afford, going to nearby districts or cities and India for treatment.

Health workers say that with the onset of summer, people suffering from fever and diarrhoea are visiting the health institutions in an increasing number.

Assistant Health Worker at Avirawa Health Post, Shankar Baitha, says that the health institution is forced to return patients empty-handed as it lacks medicines.

When asked, the DPHO Administrator Yogendra Bhagat says that the health facilities in the district are facing the shortage of medicines as the supply is yet to be made from the centre and region due to the protracted bandhs in the southern plains by various Madhes-based political parties to protest some provisions in the newly promulgated Constitution.