KATHMANDU, Dec 29: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) once said that If a person wanted to understand how the country was sinking and what the country's problems were, she/he required to look at the Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana.
He spoke this during an event held on October 29 in Kathmandu to mark the 30th anniversary of Dhanvantari (National Ayurveda Day) and the Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana Bikas Samiti.
As Mayor Shah mentioned, the Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana has sunk so low, it is hard to revive it. Once known for producing over 160 types of Ayurvedic medicines, it now only produces just three or four. With production coming almost to a standstill, the employees have failed to receive salaries regularly.
Around 1997/1998, the Vaidyakhana produced 160 types of medicines. By the fiscal year 2022/2023, it had reduced production to just 20 types of medicines. Currently, it produces only three types of medicines.
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Dr Ram Narayan Shah led the Vaidyakhana during its profitable years. According to an employee, the Vaidyakhana sold medicines worth about Rs 20 million to Rs 25 million annually under his leadership. Ramanarayan served as the head of the Vaidyakhana from December 14, 2001, to May 14, 2006. During his tenure, the Vaidyakhana produced nearly 150 types of medicines. Dr. Ram Narayan is the father of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah.
Dr Ram Narayan Shah stated that the methods he implemented during his time yielded good results. "The Vaidyakhana is sinking now, and the Ministry of Health and the Department of Ayurveda must show concern to revive it," he said.
King Pratap Malla of the then Kantipur state established the Vaidyakhana in the medieval period, which is now known as the 'Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana.' From 1994 to 2018, the Vaidyakhana operated under the Vaidyakhana Development Committee Formation Order, during which it had a management director. In 2018, the Vaidyakhana Bikas Samiti Formation Order of 1994 was revoked. In 2020, a new Vaidyakhana Bikas Samiti Formation Order was issued, replacing the position of management director with that of an executive director.
Dr Pradeep KC currently serves as the executive director of the Vaidyakhana, having been appointed to the position on November 19, 2024. Employees of the Ministry of Health are unhappy with his appointment. He believes the government forced him into the role and sent him to the Vaidyakhana. "The Ministry cannot revive the Vaidyakhana Bikas Samiti by forcefully transferring employees," he said.
He is an 11th-level employee. However, he stated that the Vaidyakhana does not have a position for the 11th level. Initially, the Ministry of Health assigned him additional responsibility to oversee the Department of Ayurveda as well. Now, he no longer holds this dual responsibility and manages only the Vaidyakhana. Earlier, in August 2023, the Ministry of Health also assigned Dr. Basudev Upadhyay, the Director-General of the Department of Ayurveda, dual responsibility as the executive director of the Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana Bikas Samiti.
Vaidyakhana employees said that Upadhyay had made efforts to improve the institution. During his tenure, he had begun preparations to invite tenders for procuring the necessary herbs for the Vaidyakhana. However, before the process could progress, the Ministry recalled him from his position as executive director and appointed Dr KC in his place. This is where the real trouble began. KC, an 11th-level employee, felt humiliated when the Ministry sent him to the Vaidyakhana. Believing he was treated unfairly, he did not report to the Vaidyakhana and moved court. The court ruled against his petition, and only then did he join the Vaidyakhana.
On December 19, Health Minister Pradeep Poudel visited the Vaidyakhana to assess the situation. He instructed Executive Director KC to prepare a report on the reasons for the halt in medicine production, the upcoming action plan, and how to restart production. However, KC chose not to submit the report to the Minister and instead expressed his views on social media.
At that time, he stated that the halt in production at the Vaidyakhana was due to the employees' fault. The Ministry became displeased with KC for sharing his views on social media without submitting the report to it. Last Sunday, the Ministry served him a notice efor making clarification within three-day. He only submitted his explanation to meet the ministry deadline.
Currently, the Vaidyakhana employs 43 people, including 41 under the Bikas Samiti and two from the Government of Nepal. Their daily routine involves coming to the office, marking attendance, and leaving immediately after. It is unfortunate that production has stopped at the Vaidyakhana, which has a long, impressive history. In the past, the Vaidyakhana's medicines dominated the Ayurvedic market in the nation. However, that era now seems like a distant memory.
