June 30: Private hospitals are not showing commitment to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) directive requiring them to run their own pharmacies.

On June 5, KMC issued a directive to all 52 private hospitals within its jurisdiction to operate their own pharmacies. However, according to Sajina Maharjan, the Officiating Chief of the KMC Health Department, none of the hospitals have contacted the department to confirm their compliance with the directive.

Some private hospitals have indicated that they plan to start operating their own pharmacies from next Saun (mid-July to mid-August), arguing that the deadline given by KMC was too short.

KMC believes that having hospitals run their own pharmacies will ensure patients receive appropriate medicines at reasonable prices. This initiative aims to make medicines more affordable for indigent citizens.

Currently, only 16 out of the 52 private hospitals are running their own pharmacies. Additionally, 28 hospitals operate the hospital and pharmacy under different names, while the remaining hospitals do not have an in-house pharmacy at all. KMC had given a 15-day deadline for the private hospitals to implement the directive. (RSS)