Govt continues monitoring in pharmacy sector: Health Minister Basnet

Kathmandu, Sept 25: Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet today said the government had continued to monitor and take action against anomalies for reforms in the pharmacy sector. He also urged the concerned authorities to be serious about the sensitivity of the pharmacy sector and directed reform efforts in the sector.

The minister was speaking in a programme organised here by the Nepal Pharmaceutical Association on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day. "During the monitories, we found that many pharmacies were not providing medicines, but pesticides. There have not been reforms in the pharmacy sector as expected. The action process has continued," he said while urging pharmacists to make the pharmacy service quality.     

"Some pharmacists are found to be serving medicines in the morning and evening. But most of the time, they assign non-pharmacists to work, thus affecting the matter. Medicines are being distributed without a doctor's prescription. We all should be serious about removing anomalies in this sector," he said.     

Pharmacists have not been employed to meet the number of pharmacies, he said. On the occasion, the Association honoured Minister Basnet for his steps to improve the pharmacy sector. Likewise, the Association's Vice President Tak BK praised Minister Basnet and demanded the registration and renewal of pharmacies at the local level.     

Attending pharmacists complained that non-pharmacists were running pharmacies. Similarly, there is a lack of permanent quotas of pharmacists, pharmacy education, monitoring and evaluation, and economic and technical assistance from the government for the upgradation of pharmacy practice, they pointed out.     

Likewise, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, said there is no alternative to meet the standards set by the Department. He stressed the need for immediate work for reforms in the pharmacy sector. Also, the President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, Prajwal Jung Pandey called for the development of digital pharmacy.     

The World Pharmacists Day is observed on September 25 every year. This year, the Day is being celebrated with various programmes across Nepal. The slogan for the Day is 'Pharmacy strengthening health systems'. There are a total of 18,000 pharmacists in Nepal. (RSS)