The District Hospital in Mugu has been reeling under an acute shortage of essential medicines after the road transport service was disrupted by floods and landslides two months ago.

District Public Health Officer Saroj Adhikari said the hospital service has been hit because of medicine shortage. “The hospital has already run out of medicine stock. A drug consignment sent by the regional medical store is stuck on the way because of road obstruction,” he said.

Health facilities outside the district headquarters have also been hit by the medicine shortage.

Ratnabir Sunar, a health worker at Ratipani Primary Health Centre, said many people in the region were suffering from viral fever.

“The health centre does not have the necessary medicines. We cannot afford to airlift the medicines,” he said.

 Even local pharmacies in the district are running out of medicines.

Scarcity in Banke

BANKE: Several health

facilities in Banke are facing medicine shortage as the District Public Health Office has bee unable to purchase medicines due to lack of budget. The DPHO storekeeper, Bedeshwor Gautam, said there was a shortage of Paracetamol, Jeewan Jal (rehydration solution), Metronidazol and essential antibiotics throughout the district.

 Once the centre has released the necessary budget, it would take at least three months to replenish the supply of medicines, added Gautam.