Officials at the MoHP informed that they will start purchasing life-saving drugs from third countries if India continues the economic blockade."We will start buying medicines from third countries if the economic blockade is not removed within two days," Mahendra Bahadur Shrestha, chief of the Management Division at the MoHP, said. He added that the ministry will also ask private health centers to buy medicines from countries other than India.
The MoHP has been discussing about various alternatives of Indian-manufactured drugs after India imposed the economic blockade on Nepal since last week.
"We have already discussed with the national drug manufacturing companies and other several stakeholders about the alternatives of Indian-manufactured drugs," he added.
According to Shrestha, the national companies do not produce life-saving drugs and the country has been relying on Indian companies for those drugs. Indian pharmaceutical companies supply about 60 percent of medicines needed in Nepal.
The MoHP has already directed the concerned agencies to keep a record of the stock of Indian drugs.
The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has also encouraged the national drug manufacturing companies to boost their production following an unofficial economic blockade slapped by Indian authority. The DDA has also told those companies to be prepared to import chemicals from Bangladesh and other countries via air cargo.
Meanwhile, official at the MoHP said that they will be compelled to review the tender of essential drugs won by Indian drug manufacturing companies. "If the economic blockade continues, their companies won't be able to supply essential drugs," said Shrestha, adding that the government has to supply essential drugs to public as per its commitment.
Indian companies supply most of the essential drugs that are provided free of cost to the public through government health institutions.
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