People in the far-western region are deprived of free medicines available at zonal hospitals, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The study conducted by the NHRC’s regional office in Dhangadi recently found that the people in the Far West do not have access to the free medicines that the government have been providing through government health facilities.

People are compelled to buy the government announced free medicines from private pharmacies, said Jangadhoj Karki, acting chief of the NHRC regional office.

The NHRC team found that the Mahakali Zonal Hospital and the Seti Zonal Hospitals in the region have not been supplying 72 types of free medicines to the government health facilities.

Dr Shreeram Tiwari, the medical superintendent of Mahakali Zonal Hospital, claimed the centre has not been providing free medicines for them to distribute.

He also said that the hospital has been inviting tenders to buy some medicines that they provide to senior citizens and dis-advantaged people on discounted prices.