KMC directs pharmacies to function within criteria

Kathmandu, Dec 6: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has given 10 days to those pharmacies running within the Metropolis to comply with the standards.

2,600 pharmacies are running in the Metropolis at present, according to the KMC. 

The press statement issued by the KMC's Health Department here today reads: "Medicines are being sold and distributed by unauthorized persons and medicines that are not registered with the Drug Administration Office, and the medicines were being sold without doctors' prescriptions. Hence, all the pharmacies running without compliance of such criteria should comply with the standards within 10 days."

Ram Prasad Poudel, Chief of the Health Department, warned to shut down those pharmacies and bring them to book if the negligence continues or no signs of changes are seen within the given timeline. 

During the monitoring, the KMC found that many of the pharmacies did not keep records, did not obtain permission from the Health Department of the Metropolis and did not manage pharmacies by the Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP), said Poudel.

The KMC has urged the consumers to lodge their complaints in the Health Department of the KMC in the toll-free no 16600105511 if there were any issues arising during the purchase of medicines. 

More monitoring is in the office by the KMC as per the Public Health Act-2080 BS's Clause 26(D). It may be noted that permission should be obtained from the KMC and the legal provision dictates that those studying pharmacy can only run drug stores. (RSS)