Medicine shortage hits health posts in rural Myagdi

Myagdi,  The only health post at Gurja of Dhawalagiri rural municipality-1 is reeling under shortage of medicines. 
The health post has not been getting the medicines that are provided by the government for free distribution to the public for the last one year and it is also running out of stock of medicines provided by Good Neighbours International, Rural Municipality Ward chairperson Jhak Bahadur Chhantyal said. 
Not only the health post at Gurja, other government health posts in the district are also facing shortage of medicines these days. This situation has been seen due to the confusion regarding the purchase and supply of the medicines meant for free distribution. The confusion is over which body – the local level or the Ministry of Health – should purchase and supply the medicines. This situation has been seen with the implementation of federalism. 
The members of the general public in the remote rural areas in the district have been facing difficulties availing of various services including medicines for lack of management of resources, including the human resources, for this purpose. 
Over the past years, the District Health Office used to buy medicines required for a particular year and supply the same to the health posts. However, this responsibility has transferred to the local level from this year with the implementation of federalism. 
The problem has been created as the local level people's representatives have failed to allocate adequate budget for purchasing the medicines and also due to the confusion over which body should purchase it. 
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