Kathmandu, July 4 : The Singhadurbar Baidyakhana Bikash Samiti (SBBS), the only state-owned manufacturer unit that produces Ayurvedic medicines has resumed production after a halt of four months. Now, the latest product is Triphala (an herbal remedy), a mixture of three dried fruits (Amala (Indian gooseberry), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
This follows the appointment of Dr. Shyam Babu Yadav as its officiating executive director by the Ministry of
Health and Population recently.
Earlier, employees of the SBBS with
permanent status had been protesting accusing its former officiating executive
director Dr. Sabari Sah of overstaffing the company through the rampant
appointments at a time when the company was out of production.
Until recently,
around 50 employees at the SBBS had be drawing salaries without work as it was
out of production.
Now, the company will be producing
other medicinal herbs, said an SBBS employee.
Without production and sales, the
SBBS employees were deprived of salaries of four months. But, following the
appointment of Yadav, their salaries in lumps were deposited in their bank
accounts, said the employee.
Meanwhile, the company is
struggling to meet increasing demands for its Ayurvedic products.
It lacks Shilajit (Mineral Pitch),
a mineral-rich resin that has long been used in Ayurveda healing for the past
six months. Likewise, Avipattikar churna, an Ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of gastric, is also in short supply for the past four months.
At least 25 people visited the SBBS
on a daily basis for the products. But they were forced to return them
empty-handed without the products, said Aaditya Thakur of the sales
department.
Shilajit worth Rs 10 million was
supplied following its bidding between 2066 BS and 2070 BS. Recently, a bidding
has been called to supply 3000 kg Shilajit, he said.
Similarly, it lacks Chyawanprash,
an Ayurvedic health supplement made from a mixture of nutrient-rich herbs and
minerals. The supplement is also in high demand, said Thakur. (RSS)