The Ministry of Health has warned of stern departmental action against officials found not performing their duty under the pretext of shortage of medicines and equipment.

In a strongly-worded letter dispatched across the country recentlya, the ministry has stated that the chief of the office, unit chief, finance chief and store chief will be held accountable if their health institutes cannot arrange required medicines despite allocation of budget.

The ministry has also asked its subordinate bodies to submit a progress report on the availability of drugs twice a month.

The directive to the health institutes and public health offices followed a meeting with Minister Gagan Thapa on September 7. Minister Thapa had warned the officials of stern departmental action if they do not ensure the availability of the medicines.

All the health institutes should maintain their drug stocks, the ministry has said in the letter.

The concerned districts, in the event of looming crisis, may conduct an emergency procurement after informing the ministry a month in advance.

“Drugs shortage remains a recurring problem and we are trying to address it,” said Mahendra Shrestha, spokesperson for the ministry.

The government has listed a total of 70 drugs in district hospitals for free distribution. Besides, 58 drugs are available at primary health care centres and 35 at health posts.