Price adjustment delays deepen cancer medicine, rabies vaccine shortages
Summary
Shortages of anti-rabies vaccines and cancer medicines are affecting patients across Nepal as hospitals run out of stock and treatment delays mount. Importers and health officials say outdated price regulations and slow procurement are worsening the crisis.
Key Points
- Patients in Kathmandu Valley and several provinces are struggling to find anti-rabies vaccines, with Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku seeing heavy daily demand and limited stock remaining.
- Hospitals outside the valley, including Bheri, Seti, Lumbini, Rapti and others, are reporting vaccine shortages and referring patients elsewhere.
- Cancer patients are also facing delays because key chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin and cisplatin are in short supply, affecting treatment at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital and other facilities.
- Officials and importers say outdated medicine prices, stalled audits, and slow approval processes are discouraging imports, and the government is considering price increases.
