National
Far-West ailing for want of life-saving medicines
Emergency health services in hill districts of the Far-Western region have been affected due to acute shortage of medicines and surgical equipment.Emergency health services in hill districts of the Far-Western region have been affected due to acute shortage of medicines and surgical equipment.
Emergency services in Dadeldhura, Doti, Baitadi, Achham, Bajura and Darchula among other areas are on the verge of closure.
Dr Rajesh Bahun of Dadeldhura Sub-Regional Hospital said patients could suffer far-reaching complications as key drugs are fast running out of stock and there is no sign of new consignments arriving in the wake of an unofficial blockade imposed by India for the last two months. Dr Bahun said situation could be worse as private clinics and pharmacies too are running out of their stock of medicines.
Top Bahadur Paudel, Chief of Sajha Drugs at Dadeldhura Sub-Regional Hospital, said the pharmacy was left with no option than to send patients without medicines. “Lives are at risk as we are reeling under acute shortage of vital drugs and oxygen,” said Paudel.
Emergency health services in hilly areas have been hugely affected due to lack of oxygen. As a result, senior citizens and children suffering from pneumonia have been hit hard,” Paudel added.
Health workers said the stakeholders ‘have failed to supply vital medicines and surgical equipment’
Dr Pushkar Raj Paneru of Sujang Hospital in Doti said the situation is going from bad to worse with Indian authorities not letting medicines pass through the border.
“Kailali and Kanchanpur too are facing shortage of medicines,” said Paneru, adding that the Indian authorities have directed local drugs stores on the Indian side not to sell medicines in retail.
Dushyant Basnet, Chairman of Far-West Chemists and Druggists Association, said they have not been able to supply drugs to medical stores for the past two months. Health workers said there has been shortage of free medicines in several health posts.