Amid an acute shortage of medicines, the Department of Drug Administration has sought urgent assistance in releasing 80 container trucks carrying life-saving drugs from Raxaul, India.

Stranded across the border with the main customs point of Birgunj for the last 52 days, these trucks carry IV fluids, injections, test-tubes, antibiotics, analgesic and other essential drugs and laboratory and medical equipment.

DDA Director General Bal Krishna Khakurel said importers had been unable to bring these consignments in even after apprising the authorities of their urgency and the impact of their absence on health services. “Fearing damage, some of the trucks have been unloaded and the contents warehoused,” said Khakurel.

The regulatory body under the Ministry of Health and Population said many drugs meant to be flown in from Indian cities are being

rerouted through other countries including Thailand and those in the Middle East.

Airlines from these countries have been bringing in small quantities of medicines and surgical implants along with raw materials for drug production.

Last week, the government formed a 10-member taskforce chaired by Khakurel to find ways out of the crisis. The team is scheduled to meet on Sunday and update the government on the drug shortages. “The government has asked us for details on the drugs stuck on the border. We will also urge the government to talk to India for releasing the cargo,” said Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal Chair Umesh Lal Shrestha, who is a member of the taskforce. “While the blockade remains the major problem, we have been unable to supply the drugs available in the country due to the fuel shortage.”

Hospitals in Kathmandu had warned last week that the health facilities would run out of supplies in two weeks if the situation did not improve.

Referral hospitals including TU Teaching Hospital and Bir Hospital are fast running out of life-saving drugs, including adrenaline and atrophin that are used to treat heart ailments.