The Department of Supply Management (DoSM) shut down 57 errant hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the Kathmandu Valley in the first six months of the fiscal year.

Most of them have been charged with operating without a licence, overcharging patients, selling narcotic drugs indiscriminately or failing to fulfil government standards for infrastructure.

“The department checked 382 medical establishments during the period, and 15 percent of them were found to have broken the rules,” said Laxman Shrestha, director at the DoSM.

Even well known hospitals like the Nepal Institute of Neurology and Allied Sciences at Bansbari, Grande International Hospital on Tokha Road, Ishan Children’s Nursing and Maternity Home at Basundhara, Vayodha Hospital at Balkhu, Norvic International Hospital and College, Nepal National Hospital at Kalanki, Om Hospital and Research Centre and Helping Hands Community Hospital at Chabahil and B&B Hospital in Lalitpur were found to have violated regulations.

All health service providers are required to obtain a licence from the Department of Health Services. The DoSM’s investigation showed that many of them did not possess a permit or had not renewed it.

Similarly, the pharmacies against which action has been taken were found selling date expired medicines or drugs without proper labeling, failing to maintain a proper record of narcotic drugs or not following the billing system prescribed by the regulator, the Department of Drug Administration.

Khadoma Dental Care, Stupa Kanti Dental, Bouddha Dental Care Home and Bouddha Nath Swasthya Clinic at Boudhha, Ugratara Unique Polyclinic and Diagnostic Centre in Kirtipur, Kathmandu Polyclinic Pathology Lab at Thapathali, Budhanilkantha Medical Centre at Budhanilkantha, and Apollo Dental Home and Global Dental Care Clinic at Maharajgunj were booked for operating without a licence from the Department of Health Services.

Similarly, Vyas Pharmacy at Shankhamul, Harisiddhi Clinic and Pathology Centre and Suryamukhi Pharmacy at Pepsicola and Dharan Dental at Maitidevi lacked proper paperwork. Siddhapokhari Clinic and Samjhana Laboratory Clinic at Dudhpati, Dakshin Barahi Swasthya Clinic in Madhyapur Thimi and Ojas Pharmacy Clinic at Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur also failed to produce a permit.

Among the pharmacies, Jay Shiddheshwor Pathology, Raksha Devi Pharmacy and Shikshay Pharmacy at Shantinagar, and Krishab Medical Hall at Shankhamul lacked licensed pharmacists. Mangalam Pharma at Suryabinayak was found selling narcotic drugs indiscriminately. A number of other pharmacies had cosmetics and pesticides in their inventory.

Likewise, Akhanda Medical Centre at Battisputali was found issuing medical reports rampantly to people bound for foreign employment.

The DoSM said it had allowed a number of sealed outlets to reopen without taking action against them as they had renewed their operating licences.

Consumer rights activists criticised the move saying it would encourage misconduct. “The regulator has let the offenders off without punishing them which will encourage others to disregard the rules,” said Jyoti Baniya, president of the Consumers’ Welfare Protection Forum.