Kathmandu, April 10: The government has ordered an investigation into the recent increase in medicine prices, while also pulling the Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, to the Ministry of Health as a disciplinary measure.
Minister for Health and Population Nisha Mehta made the decision on Thursday night to assign Dhakal to the ministry following concerns over the price hike.
The move comes after the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers directed the Ministry of Health to investigate the issue of rising drug prices. The Prime Minister’s Office has also instructed the ministry secretary, Vikas Devkota, to form a three-member expert committee to carry out the probe.
According to sources close to the Prime Minister, the directive follows a complaint received at the Prime Minister’s Office. The ministry has been asked to submit a detailed report within seven days.
The instruction mandates clarification on how medicine prices were increased, what procedures govern drug pricing, and who may be involved in any irregularities.
Questions over alleged unauthorized price hikes had already reached Parliament in recent days. During a House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, National Independent Party lawmaker Rajiv Khatiwada raised concerns, suggesting the possibility of large-scale financial irregularities.
Citing a report by the Office of the Auditor General, Khatiwada also alleged serious mismanagement in the pharmaceutical sector.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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