Medicine Shortage in Hospital for Two Months Caused Difficulties for Patients 

  November 1, 2024 By: INSEC

Humla District Hospital has had a medicine shortage for two months, causing patients to face difficulties. The only district hospital in the area lacks sufficient medicine for those seeking treatment. The medications provided for the fiscal year 2022/2023 covered patients’ needs at the district hospital, but patients have complained about a lack of medicines since then. Currently, health workers in Humla are treating patients as best they can, but due to a lack of medicines, patients are forced to buy expensive medicines from private pharmacies. Resident Asmita Budha complained that patients visiting the hospital and those admitted to the 15-bed ward must purchase drugs from private pharmacies due to the unavailability of medicines. She shared that when she took her son to the hospital for treatment, they had to buy medicines from a private pharmacy as there were not enough medicines available at the hospital.

Similarly, resident Gorakh Shahi complained that, despite going to the district hospital for an itchy blister on his forehead, there was no medicine for the wound, forcing him to purchase it from a private pharmacy. He stated, “What is the use of the district hospital if it doesn’t have basic medicines?” Although the Government of Nepal provides 98 types of medicines free of charge, there is a lack of basic medicines for colds and diarrhea at the Humla District Hospital. Locals report that even when patients are admitted, they are forced to purchase essential medications from private pharmacies. District Hospital Humla Chief Pratikshya Bharati stated that although some medicines were sent from Karnali Province last April, there has been a medicine shortage in Humla since August. She explained that this issue arose due to the transferring process of office chiefs. The shortage became worse during the Dashain and Tihar festivals, but she assured that it would be resolved in the next two weeks. She also noted that medicines for the fiscal year 2023/2024 have not been purchased yet.

According to Article 35, Sub-article 1 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015, every citizen has the right to receive basic health services free of charge. However, due to a lack of sufficient medicines at the district hospital, patients coming for treatment have been facing difficulties.

 


Nanda Singh