KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has formed a committee for monitoring the quality and standard of medicines and the pharmaceutical industries.

Health Minister Pradip Yadav constituted the committee through a ministerial-level decision.

Additional Secretary at the Ministry Dr Bikas Devkota is the coordinator of the committee which has been tasked with monitoring the quality of the medicines as well as studying the status of the operation, service delivery, capacity, operation process, and standard of the pharmaceutical industries, pharmacies, and related agencies.

Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki said the committee will also conduct an on-site study of the quality of medicines, associated problems, and challenges.

He said the committee will submit its findings report to the Ministry within two weeks.

The members of the committee include the Director-General of the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) Narayan Prasad Dhakal, a representative from the National Drugs Laboratory, a representative from the Pharmacy Council, a representative of the District Administration Office of the district where the monitoring is carried out and the chief of the DDA’s district-based office.