The Ministry of Health and Population has issued directives to the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) to ensure that all pharmacies comply with the July 7 Cabinet decision that requires them to display the price list of 96 medicine. Fixing the maximum retail price of 18 much-used common medicine and 78 special drugs for patients of chronic diseases, including cancer, the Cabinet had directed MoHP to strictly enforce the new provision.
However, complaints were received against pharmacies charging exorbitant prices and also the lack of uniformity in the price of medicine in different drug stores.Minister for Health and Population Khagaraj Adhikari said the initiative was only a beginning toward making the health sector more reliable, dependable, and systematic. He expressed hope that the drive would put an end to the trend of pharmacies fleecing patients. “I strongly urge officials of MoHP as well as DDA to carry out effective monitoring of the fixed prices and also to bring the guilty to book under the Black Marketing Act.
The government is committed to end the culture of profiteering and black-marketing in medicine,” he said. Balkrishna Khakurel, DDA director general, said the Cabinet decision had come into effect after a notification regarding the price list of 96 medicine was made public in Nepal Gazette on August 3. “Monitoring campaigns to ensure that pharmacies have been abiding with the fixed price list are being carried out. Legal action will be initiated if drug stores are caught violating the provision,” he informed. Prices of medicine were fixed as per Section 26 of Drugs Act, 1978. “Anyone who finds pharmacies charging more than the marked price may lodge a complaint with DDA. We have strongly directed the pharmacies not to indulge in unethical business practices and to follow the provision,” he said.
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| the himalayantimes 13th August 2015 |
The government is committed to end the culture of profiteering and black-marketing in medicine,” he said. Balkrishna Khakurel, DDA director general, said the Cabinet decision had come into effect after a notification regarding the price list of 96 medicine was made public in Nepal Gazette on August 3. “Monitoring campaigns to ensure that pharmacies have been abiding with the fixed price list are being carried out. Legal action will be initiated if drug stores are caught violating the provision,” he informed. Prices of medicine were fixed as per Section 26 of Drugs Act, 1978. “Anyone who finds pharmacies charging more than the marked price may lodge a complaint with DDA. We have strongly directed the pharmacies not to indulge in unethical business practices and to follow the provision,” he said.