Kathmandu — Amid growing complaints of medicine shortages across the country, the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Welfare conducted an on-site inspection of Nepal Aushadhi Limited.
The committee reviewed several issues affecting drug production — including raw material supply disruptions, financial constraints, and reluctance from government offices to procure medicines from the state-owned manufacturer.
According to Committee Chair Abdul Khan, although the company has sufficient manpower, technology, and infrastructure, production remains limited due to policy gaps, budget shortages, and bureaucratic neglect. Nepal Aushadhi Limited currently manufactures only 11 types of medicines but claims it can produce up to 98 types if raw material supply and funding are ensured.
“Due to policy ambiguity and weaknesses in the public procurement process, government hospitals rely on private suppliers, while the government ignores its own institution’s production,” Khan stated.
The committee said it initiated the inspection in response to public complaints about lack of access to essential medicines. It will now recommend policy-level solutions to the government to resolve the challenges faced by Nepal Aushadhi Limited.