Trust deficit grows over free medicines in Nepal
Summary
Many patients and even doctors in Nepal do not trust the quality of free medicines provided by government health facilities for chronic diseases, leading to low usage and preference for private pharmacies.
Key Points
- Many patients with chronic diseases in Nepal distrust free medicines provided by government health facilities and prefer branded drugs from private pharmacies.
- Even doctors and health officials do not use free medicines themselves, citing quality concerns.
- Low-bid procurement and lack of a strong surveillance system contribute to compromised drug quality in government-supplied medicines.
- The list of essential free medicines has not been updated since 2016, with many medicines becoming obsolete and causing wastage.
