Drug suppliers said that they have been compelled to use air routes of Singapore and Bangkok to import Indian-manufactured medicines after Indian airlines refused to carry cargos of medicines to Nepal."We have been compelled to import medicines of Indian companies by flying them to South East Asian cities before bringing them to Kathmandu," Mrigendra Meher Shrestha, chairman of Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association (NCDA), said. He said that Indian airlines have told the importers they do not have space to carry medicines.
Drug suppliers have been using Thai Airways and Asia Pacific Airlines to import emergency drugs from various cities of India. Those airlines have been taking medicines from Hyderabad to Bangkok of Thailand and Singapore before bringing the medicines to Kathmandu in their scheduled flights.
According to Shrestha, drug suppliers have already imported emergency drugs of over Rs 40 million. Drug manufacturing companies have been bearing all the air expenses. "We are committed to not letting the price of the drugs to rise," said Shrestha. He claimed that crisis of medicine will be resolved within next couple of days. Importers have also been bringing cargos of essential medicines via Bhairahawa customs point.
Patients across the country have been deprived of proper treatment in lack of essential medicines. Senior doctors have said that scores of people have already died as a result of this crisis. Some major hospitals have been deferring scheduled surgeries owing to the acute shortage of essential medicines and other supplies necessary for s.
Over 450 trucks carrying medicines and raw materials for drugs manufacture are still being held at the border despite the agitating Madhesi Front's assurance of allowing safe passage to medical cargos.
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