Demand for Mandatory Pharmacist Positions in Every Municipality
May 10, 2025 (27 Baisakh 2082 B.S)
Emphasizing the principle of “Where there is medicine, there must be a pharmacist,” speakers at the opening session of the Third General Assembly and Second Convention of the Pharmacy Association of Nepal, Rupandehi highlighted the need for mandatory pharmacist positions in all municipalities. They stressed that since pharmacists are experts in medicines, it is essential to ensure their presence in every local government body.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Khel Raj Pandey, Mayor of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, noted that the policy requiring pharmacy-related work to be handled by professionally trained pharmacists is gradually being strengthened. He urged the Association to take initiatives with the federal government to implement a policy mandating at least one pharmacist in every municipality.
He further shared that out of 19 wards in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, 18 wards currently have pharmacists, though on a contractual basis. However, he expressed concern that the absence of permanent positions has created multiple challenges in the health sector. According to him, local representatives face undue blame — accused of revenge when contractual staff are removed, and accused of financial irregularities when they are not.
Mayor Pandey emphasized that Nepal does not lack skilled pharmacy graduates and called for a systematic approach to ensure the mandatory presence of pharmacists for the proper sale and distribution of medicines. He also mentioned that issues surrounding advertisement taxes in Butwal will be resolved through internal homework, assuring that no additional tax rates will be imposed in the coming fiscal year.
On the same occasion, Mr. Kiran Dhakal, Central President of the Pharmacy Association of Nepal, highlighted the malpractice of running pharmacies using licenses registered under someone else’s name. He expressed the Association’s commitment to eliminating such practices and urged stronger regulation and monitoring.
Similarly, Mr. Yuba Raj Bhusal, Central General Secretary of the Association, stressed that pharmacists should be present wherever medicines are available. He further underlined that pharmacists must prioritize public service over mere business interests.
Mr. Ganesh Sedhai, President of the Pharmacy Association of Nepal, Rupandehi, reiterated the demand for at least one pharmacist in every municipality and urged the Association to engage with the federal government on this matter, incorporating suggestions from district branches. He also drew attention to the challenges posed by unregistered, illegal pharmacies, which negatively impact legally registered pharmacies, emphasizing the urgent need for regulation and monitoring.
Other speakers included Mr. Sunil Shrestha, Former Central Vice President of the Medicine Entrepreneurs’ Association; Mr. Dhruva Kumar Sharma, Central Member of the Association and Founding President of Rupandehi; Mr. Narayan Thapa, Vice President of the Medicine Entrepreneurs’ Association Rupandehi; Mr. Chiranjeevi Joshi, Managing Director of Mayadevi Technical College; Mr. Govinda Prasad Tiwari, President of Lumbini Province; Dr. Bikram Ghimire, President of Kapilvastu; Mr. Choklal Sapkota, Vice President of Rupandehi; and Mr. Uday Bahadur Khatri, Secretary of the Association.
During the event, advisors and executive committee members who contributed significantly to the institutional development of the Association were honored.
