NDC resumes production after 8 years

Nepal Drug Company (NDC) has resumed production of medicines after shutting down for eight years.

The government-run pharmaceutical company has resumed operation with the production of ‘Jeevan Jal’, an oral rehydration solution (ORS), which was once synonymous with ORS.

Minister for Industry Nabindra Raj Joshi Sunday launched the production of ‘Jeevan Jal’ amidst a programme at the NDC premises.

He unveiled the timeline of the company, which will produce about 40 types of medicines, including anti-venom and anti-rabies drugs.

“By October this year, the company will expand its production to 15 types of medicines, and the number of medicines will reach 40 within a year,” said the minister.

For the production of international standard medicines as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, the company has opened a global tender for 27 types of modern equipment and machines, which will arrive here within a couple of months.

Currently, the company has an ORS production plant that can manufacture 40 sachets of Jeevan Jal a minute.

Within three months, non-penicillin group medicines like Cetamol will be produced.

It is also planning to produce anti-venom and anti-rabies medicines after two years.   

The company-produced ORS will come at Rs. 9 a packet, Rs. 1 less than the other brands of the same category available in the market.

Minister Joshi expressed the hope that the NDC would set the trend of success for other government industries that are ill or have already shut down.

Revival of the company was one of his major agenda of reform after assuming the post of minister.

According to director-general of the company Dr. Robhash Kusum Subedi, the company was forced to shut down some eight years ago as it couldn’t follow the WHO-GMP guidelines and Codes on Drug Manufacturing, 1984.

The government in 2009 had made it mandatory to follow both the guidelines and codes.

Subedi said that there had been efforts at re-operating the company, but they couldn’t bear fruit.

“Once this company comes in full operation, it will lessen the dependency of medicines on other countries, use domestic raw materials and herbs, and will counter the private sector monopoly. We aim to supply drugs at lower rates to the government,” he said.

The company has been able to come into operation with a Rs. 64.8 million loan support from the government. The Ministry of Finance has pledged a total loan of Rs. 146.5 million to the company.