Mostly patients have been hit hard due to this.The drug stores have been shut down at the call of the Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association, Narayani, in protest against the call for tenders for operating 16 pharmacies inside the Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital, Birgunj. The hospital administration had called for tenders.

The Association has launched phase-wise agitation for the past 10 days to protest the call for tenders saying it was against the agreement with pharmacies.

The hospital administration has called for new tenders from 16 drug centres under the Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital Development Committee, located at the hospital premises, against the previous agreement of giving permission to the drug centres by increasing rent by 10 per cent every two years without calling for bids.

The Association said that they have been compelled to shut down all the drug stores as the hospital administration neglected their frequent requests.

The Association further said that the services would be resumed soon after their demands were addressed.

An arrangement has been made to operate a drug centre belonging to Sajha cooperative located at the hospital premises and one drug centre each at other hospitals for emergency services and for the convenience of the patients admitted at the hospitals.