Health facilities short of essential vaccines, medicines for months
Summary
Prolonged procurement and supply failures have left government health facilities across Nepal short of essential vaccines, medicines and supplements, including iron and folic acid, anti-snake venom and JE vaccines. The shortages have raised concerns over preventable deaths and long-term damage to public health programs.
Key Points
- Government health facilities across Nepal are running out of essential vaccines, medicines and health supplements because of prolonged procurement and supply disruptions.
- Bagmati and Madhesh provincial centres report shortages of iron and folic acid supplements and anti-snake venom, while hospitals in several provinces have little or no stock.
- Snakebite deaths and hospitalisations have climbed since mid-May, and shortages of anti-rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccines have added to the public health risk.
- Experts say the recurring shortages reflect deeper failures in Nepal’s health system and procurement chain, not isolated temporary problems.
