Quest Pharmaceuticals completes 25 years in medicine manufacturing

 Kathmandu, July 11

The government should reconsider continuing subsidies and protection for state-run industries and instead create an environment where private companies can compete freely, said President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Anjan Shrestha.

Speaking at an event organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Quest Pharmaceuticals, Shrestha said private companies were capable of supplying medicines and other products at lower costs than government-owned companies operating with subsidies.

“Let the private sector compete among itself. The private sector can provide products, including medicines, at a lower cost compared to the cost of government production and subsidies,” he said.

Shrestha argued that protected industries had remained financially weak for decades despite continued government support. “Why waste taxpayers’ money? The government should rethink this approach,” he added.

He also said excessive regulation of private businesses had created difficulties for investors. According to him, a delegation of the private sector recently told Prime Minister Balendra Shah that regulatory hurdles had discouraged investment.

“Prime Minister Shah has assured us that there will be regular interaction with the business community through a permanent mechanism, including with major umbrella organisations,” Shrestha said.

Quest Pharmaceuticals has completed 25 years in medicine manufacturing and is preparing to establish an exclusive innovation centre that will work in developing new products.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration organised on Friday evening in Kathmandu, Executive Director of the company Umesh Lal Shrestha maintained that research and innovation had become the company’s major priorities. The centre is under-construction in Bhaktapur and will contribute to substituting imports of high-end medicines.

He also stressed the need for clear government policies to promote industries, adjust medicine prices and encourage research.

Speaking at the programme, lawmaker Ganesh Parajuli said the fact that Nepali pharmaceutical products had secured around 50 per cent of the domestic market was encouraging.

He said the government should promote and facilitate domestic medicine manufacturers, noting that medicine prices had not increased for the past 11 years despite rising production costs.

“The government will always stand with investors and entrepreneurs. It has given priority to research and innovation,” Parajuli said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 July 2026.