The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has stated that it has not received any information regarding a shortage of rabies vaccines.
Acting Director General Shiwani Khadgi said that the department has not received any official information about a rabies vaccine shortage in the country.
She noted that the vaccine supply may have been affected due to some delays in the government procurement process, but added that the procurement process has now reached its final stage.
According to her, most vaccines used in Nepal are imported from abroad.
Khadgi said that only veterinary vaccines are produced domestically, while all vaccines for human use are fully dependent on imports.
“The issue of rabies vaccine shortage has been raised to some extent. However, no information about any shortage has reached the department. There has been some delay in the government procurement process, but I think it is now almost complete,” she said.
Khadgi added that if rabies vaccines are required, the department can facilitate their supply through a special recommendation process.
Risk of substandard medicines due to open border
Due to the open border with India, unregistered and substandard medicines and vaccines continue to enter Nepal.
Khadgi said that effective regulation has been difficult because the Department of Drug Administration and the National Medicine Laboratory do not have a permanent presence at border customs checkpoints.
According to her, although the department conducts regular monitoring and enforcement, it faces challenges in carrying out regulation at the desired level due to shortage of personnel.
"It has come to the department’s notice that counterfeit vaccines and medicines have been entering the country because of the open border. Recently, a counterfeit medicine called Seroflo has been coming in. Since there is no presence of the Department of Drug Administration and the National Medicine Laboratory at the customs points, we are facing difficulties in regulation due to the open border,” she said.
