Nepal produces 10,000 brands of medicine; has 57 allopathic and 42 ayurvedic drug industries

Chitwan, March 1: The Department of Drug Administration has said Nepal was currently producing 10,000 brands of medicine which compose 45 percent of drug market in the country.
Director General at the Department, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, shared this information during the ongoing 7th Nepal Pharma and Health Expo 2019 in Chitwan.
Similarly, Chairman of Nepal Medicine Producers’ Association, Dipak Prasad Dahal, informed that there were 57 allopathic and 42 ayurvedic drug industries running in the country. Nepal consumes the allopathic medicine of Rs 36 billion and ayurvedic of 5 billion in a year, he added.
On the occasion, Vice President of FNCCI, Umesh Raj Shrestha, pointed out the need of reform in industry policy, so that it could boost industries. The government should prioritize the drug industries too, he urged.
Similarly, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Haribhakta Sharma, viewed that the creation of marketing for nationally produced medicines was imperative.
There are 200 stalls of medicines in the expo to run for three days. Even the medical equipments are on display. In the expo, arrangement is made for anyone willing to donate organ posthumously.
Inaugurating the expo, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Matrika Yadav, said if all sides worked in unison Nepal could be self reliant on medicine.
He hoped the expo would be a fruitful platform to share knowledge and technology to develop drug industries in the country, for which, the government was positive.