KATHMANDU, April 23: Entrepreneurs have said that Nepal can become self-reliant in medicine production if the government provides required support and assistance for it.
Speaking at the inaugural function of Nepal Pharma Expo 2022 in the capital on Friday, speakers said that the domestic pharmaceutical industry should be promoted through relevant policies. They mentioned the policy of some countries to ban import of medicines that are domestically produced.
On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the Nepali pharmaceutical industry has reached the stage where it can meet 50 percent of the demand.
Likewise, President of the Nepal Medical Association, Dr Lochan Karki, said that the state should adopt a policy to promote domestic industries while President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Dr. Prajwal Jung Pandey said that Nepali medicines were being exported and stressed on the need for the government to provide policy-level support as the industry has the capacity to produce more than 90 percent of the drugs essential in the country.
Former President of the Association, Deepak Dahal, shared that 72 industries were producing medicines in Nepal while 32 were in the process of being established.
Secretary General of the Association, Biplav Adhikari, said that this year's expo would expand the knowledge and technology being embraced by the pharmaceutical sector in Nepal. It will raise awareness among the people about the technology of drug production and the sensitivities adopted in it.
The Expo is held every two years for the development of drugs being produced in Nepal and the technology used in the production of medicines, labs, machines, raw materials, packaging etc. There are 123 multinational companies and 37 domestic pharmaceutical industry booths in the expo.
(RSS)