KATHMANDU: The Nepal Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs Association on Tuesday staged a protest at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA), calling for the removal of a controversial sub-clause under the Drugs Act, 1978.
The protestors said their serious attention had been drawn to provisions related to shop registration and renewal introduced through the ‘Some Nepal Amendment Act, 2025’. They argued that the new arrangement poses a direct threat to the livelihood of thousands of entrepreneurs, especially when minor administrative errors or delays could lead to the cancellation of business licenses.
In a statement, the Association said the provision contradicts constitutional guarantees, including the right to freedom and opportunities under Article 17(2)(c), the right to employment under Article 33, and the right to justice under Article 20(8). They stressed that such measures undermine equal treatment under Article 18(1) and violate Article 25(1), which ensures the right to property.
The entrepreneurs argued that cancelling a business license due to technical lapses amounts to an unconstitutional attack on an individual’s property and means of livelihood. They urged the government and the DDA to revise the provision and ensure a regulatory environment that supports rather than undermines pharmaceutical entrepreneurs.
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