All News

Patients at Beni Hospital are facing difficulties due to the lack of a smooth supply of medicines that are free to be distributed at the district level. The hospital operates a free medicine distribution unit but currently has only 25 to 30 types of medicines available. While the government provides 96 types of medicines, including 92 from district hospitals and birthing centers, only about 25% of these medicines are currently in stock. This shortage of essential medicines is creating challenges for patients who rely on the free distribution services. The Medical Superintendent Dr. Anju Thapa stated that the shortage of medicines in the hospital is due to the Province Health Logistics Management Center of Gandaki has not sent the medicines intended for free distribution. “We are not allowed to purchase the medicines that the government has promised to distribute for free through tenders. The provincial government’s delay in sending medicines has caused significant difficulties for us and the patients,” she said. She mentioned that some medicines covered by insurance were included for free distribution starting from August 17, but since they have not been sent to the hospital, patients with chronic illnesses have been significantly affected.

Some medicines for chronic patients were previously covered by insurance. These medicines have been included in the list for free distribution starting from August 17,” said Dr. Thapa, the acting Medical Superintendent of Beni Hospital. The patients are facing difficulties because they are unable to receive these medicines either through the insurance service or from the hospital’s medicine distribution unit. She mentioned that even when free medicines are sent, they often have only 2-3 months of shelf life, which causes problems as they expire quickly.

Khem Kumari Panta, the Medicine Store Chief and Nursing Officer at Beni Hospital stated that despite repeated requests to the provincial government for medicines, there has been no response. He explained that a policy hurdle prevents the hospital from purchasing medicines for free distribution on its own. Requests for medicines were made at the beginning of the current fiscal year, but nothing has been received so far. This lack of response has resulted in ongoing shortages. Additionally, not only are the free medicines supposed to be supplied by the government lacking, but the hospital often faces shortages of medicines it needs to purchase from suppliers as well. Currently, the lack of free medicines at Beni Hospital is causing significant problems for patients with chronic illnesses such as mental health issues, diabetes, hypertension, and heart-related diseases who require regular medication. Apart from 5 to 10 basic medicines like paracetamol and oral rehydration solution, Beni Hospital is experiencing issues with stockouts of other medicines. According to Banika Pun, a staff member of the hospital’s pharmacy and social service unit, regular medications for patients with hypertension and cholesterol have not been available for the past two months. The hospital stated that among the various medicines given to diabetic patients, only 500 mg of metformin is available; no other medicines are in stock. Metformin itself comes every six months. Similarly, all dosages of atorvastatin, which patients with hypertension and cholesterol need to take regularly, have been out of stock for the past nine months.

 

Amrit Prasad Paudyal