Health Ministry, Nepal Ausadhi sign agreement to expand domestic drug production

KATHMANDU: Ministry of Health and Food Safety and Nepal Ausadhi (NAL) have signed an agreement to expand domestic drug production.

Under the agreement, NAL will produce 36 types of essential medicines within the next two years. It currently manufactures 11 essential drugs.

The deal will extend production to medicines for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The ministry said it would accelerate research and development, quality testing, production permits and technical preparations to implement the plan, and would allocate the necessary budget for production and supply to government health institutions.

The agreement paves the way for institutional procurement of medicines, with government health facilities to purchase drugs from NAL. This will make procurement more effective, according to the ministry. Medicines produced by NAL will meet national and international standards.

The initiative is intended to advance the government’s long-term goal of promoting the domestic pharmaceutical industry and achieving greater self-reliance in medicines.

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