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Kathmandu Sunday September 17, 2000 Aswin 01, 2057.
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New provision on medicine import to boost local
industry
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Sept 16 - The Government’s recent decision to levy
registration charge for foreign drug manufacturers and firms supplying drugs to Nepal,
registration fee for individual brands and their renewal will have positive impact on the
struggling local industries, says pharmaceutical manufacturers.
As per the August 17 cabinet decision, Rs 50 thousand will be charged to
pharmaceutical company of SAARC countries to supply their products to Nepal, while the
charge for countries beyond the SAARC region is 1000 US Dollar. Previously there was no
such charge for the foreign drug manufacturer.
Likewise those companies having export recommendation letter to supply drugs
to Nepal will be subject to pay one thousand rupees (For SARRC countries) for their
individual brands to get registered and 30 US dollar for non-SAARC countries annually.
These companies will have to pay 5 hundred rupees ( for SAARC countries) and 15 US Dollar
(for non-SAARC countries) to renew their respective brands annually.
Drugs falling under other than life saving category will be registered by
paying 15 hundred rupees for SAARC countries and 45 US dollar for other countries for
their individual brands.
Likewise to register each generic medicine, a company has to pay just 5
hundred rupees (SAARC Countries) and 15 US Dollar for other countries. To renew each
medicine falling under generic category, companies need to pay Rs 250 for SAARC countries
and 10 US Dollar for other countries.
For life saving drugs, the companies (SARRC Countries) have to pay 1 hundred
rupees for registration and 50 rupees for renewal annually.
Local pharmaceutical companies were raising the demand to levy charges on
these medicines for years.
Government officials hope that the new measures will ensure the quality of
drugs as per the World Health Organization (WHO) standard and boost the local
Pharmaceutical Industries, which are raising their share on local consumption gradually.
Dr Asfak Sheikh, Chief at the Department of Drug Administration hoped that
the new measures would raise additional 50 million rupees in revenue.
Local Pharmaceutical manufacturer hailed the decision as "timely and
necessary step."
Praeep Jung Pandey, President of Drug Manufacturers Association of Nepal
hoped that the minimum charge to register and renew the generic and life saving drugs
would make these medicines cheaper and help the poor. But implementation of these rules
must be stern, cautioned Pandey.
Nepalese Pharmaceutical companies have a share of
around 30 percent in the domestic market. More than 435 Indian companies with their
approximately four thousand brands are supplying Drugs
to Nepal.
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