Physicians Must Not Recommend Illegal Nutraceuticals
-January 31, 2025 (Magh 18, 2081 B.S)
Pharmacy Association of Nepal has urged that physicians should not be allowed to recommend illegal nutraceuticals.
The Association expressed serious concern over the statement by the Ministry of Health and Population, which appeared to place the entire blame for the distribution of nutraceuticals on pharmacies and retail medicine shops. This was stated in a press release issued on Thursday by the Association’s General Secretary, Mr. Yuvaraj Bhusal.
On Magh 15, 2081 (January 28, 2025), the Ministry of Health and Population had issued a notice stating that nutraceuticals are neither registered as medicines nor permitted to be sold as such. It further claimed that more than 3,000 pharmacies are monitored annually and over 100 cases have already been filed in district courts to prevent such sales. The Ministry had also urged all stakeholders to halt such practices.
In response, the Association clarified that it has always been committed to quality healthcare, medicines, and health materials with a sense of responsibility. “In recent times, the notices and directives issued by the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) seem to be unfairly targeting pharmacies and retail medicine shops,” the Association’s statement read.
The Association highlighted that nutraceuticals are products with medicinal properties, which are often registered as food items during import but later distributed as medicines based on physicians’ recommendations. “The main responsibility for misleading patients, exploiting ignorance, and making unfair profits lies with the importers and doctors themselves,” the Association stated. “However, the blame is now being unfairly shifted onto the DDA, the Ministry of Health, retail pharmacists, and pharmacy owners. This is unjust.”
The Association further stressed that physicians continue to openly recommend products not registered with the DDA, while the Ministry and the Department have failed to take any action against them. “If the Drug Act, 2035 applies to everyone, why should doctors be treated as exceptions? Shouldn’t the Ministry instruct doctors to refrain from recommending illegal products?” the statement asked.
The Association therefore urged the Ministry to issue strict directives preventing physicians from recommending illegal products. “Otherwise, punishing only pharmacy professionals would be unfair. If necessary, we are ready to clear our shelves of such nutraceuticals and submit a report. But biased policies like these will have a negative impact on the health sector. We request the Ministry to take fair and just measures,” the Association concluded.
