Dhaulagiri Provincial Hospital in Baglung, which has been gradually improving the quality of its services, continues to face a common complaint from patients as prescribed medicines are unavailable. Most insured patients visiting the hospital pharmacy have complained that essential medicines for thyroid, cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart-related conditions are not available. Three months ago, Tulsi Sharma returned empty-handed after not getting thyroid medicine and had to buy it from a medical shop. When she visited the hospital again for the second time, she still couldn’t get the thyroid medicine. Sharma is only a representative example. Many patients coming to the hospital say that although their medical tests are done properly, they are unable to obtain the prescribed medicines. Currently, Thyroid 25 and Thyroid 12.5 are not available at the hospital pharmacy.
Because the hospital has been unable to procure medicines on time, patients are forced to purchase them at high prices from private pharmacies. According to patients, the hospital has failed to make all medicines available on time due to the vested interests of some health workers. They allege that some staff, who have private pharmacies outside the hospital, deliberately create shortages inside the hospital pharmacy.
At present, not only thyroid medicines but also heart-related medicines are in short supply. The hospital, which has previously reported shortages of even basic medicines like Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Paracetamol, claims to be improving service quality but continues to delay medicine procurement.
In particular, insured patients have repeatedly complained about not getting medicines through the insurance scheme, even when their check-ups are properly conducted. Sisham Bohora, who came for treatment at the hospital, said that most of the medicines prescribed by doctors were not available in the hospital pharmacy.
Pharmacy in-charge Santosh Subedi explained that the delay occurred because the medicines were still in transport. Medical Superintendent of Dhaulagiri Hospital, Dr. Kiran Tiwari, said that such problems could be avoided if procurement was done on time by monitoring the stock, and assured that the shortage would be immediately addressed.
“Regular procurement is ongoing to prevent shortages of medicines. However, many medicines are scheduled to go under tender right after Tihar. We are working to make the pharmacy more efficient,” said Tiwari. “A management team is mobilized to ensure medicines are accessible to citizens in an affordable manner. Some complaints about shortages have been received, and we will resolve them immediately.”
National News Agency