Most of the state-run health institutions in Siraha are facing shortage of essential medicines that the government have been providing for free.

Kameshor Rohita, the storekeeper at the District Health Office, said the shortage started last year during the border blockade. “Since then we have been requesting the Department of Drug Administration and the Health Ministry to supply the medicines, but to no avail,” he said. The medicine shortage has affected the District Hospital, Ram Prasad Uma Memorial Hospital, four primary health centres, 104 health posts and two municipal health clinics. “Services at almost all state-run health institutions in Siraha have been affected by the medicine shortage,” said Dr Daya Shankarlal Karna, chief of the District Hospital.  

Durga Nanda Pasman of Khirauna said when he visited the District Hospital with a fever recently, his doctor advised him to buy the medicine from private dispensary.

Bijaya Yadav of Sanhaitha also said that he had to buy the medicine that used to be distributed for free.

The government provides 70 essential medicines for free from the state-run hospitals, primary health centres and health posts.