Although the Department of Health Services has the necessary budget for the purchase of medicines, there is a shortage of essential medicines such as nutrients to feed malnourished children, vitamin 'A', iron pills, rabies vaccine, temporary family planning implants, and so on.
According to the data of the Department of Health Services, there are about 40,000 severely malnourished children across the country. Last year, 2,261 new malnourished children were seen in Kapilvastu. Last year, 52 people died due to malnutrition.
The Department of Health Services has yet to call for tenders to purchase nutrients F-75, F-100, RUTF, Bal Vita and family planning implants to feed malnourished and other physically ill children. In the current financial year, there is a budget of 41 lakh 55 thousand rupees for the purchase of nutrients and 15 million rupees for the purchase of temporary family planning equipment including implants. 13 crore rupees have been allocated for the purchase of anti-rabies vaccine.
Among the various reasons for not being able to purchase nutrients, implants, and vitamin A to feed malnourished children, the main reasons are that only one company, with the collusion of suppliers, bids more than the cost price, does not call for tenders on time, and does not agree between employees and suppliers. Revachi International added 40 percent to purchase nutrients for malnourished children, German manufacturer Bayer G charged 4.72 percent to purchase implants, and Indian manufacturer Cinnadar charged 25 percent more to purchase vitamin A.
Last year's cost price of nutrients F-75, F-100 and RUTF was 851 rupees, 942 rupees and 44 rupees per packet respectively. Director of Health Services Department Management Division. Pawanjung Rayamazhi said that due to not being able to make purchases on time, there was a delay in moving the file forward due to frequent changes in the decision-making staff from higher to lower levels. "However, it is not the case that medicine could not be purchased due to disagreements between the employees and the contractor company," he claimed, "the purchase was delayed because the tender for the purchase of medicine could not be increased from the past cost." However, the Director of the Management Division, Dr. Rayamazhi is accused.
After the lack of medicine, the Family Welfare Division of the Department of Health Services made a plan to get support from nutritional donors to feed malnourished children. However, the donor for that has not been found yet. Director of Health Services Department Family Welfare Division Dr. Viveklal Karna said that there is a problem now because the management branch, which has the responsibility of purchasing medicine, has not taken it seriously on time. Time was not taken care of. Now the problem is starting to appear," he said.
Not being able to eat has not improved health much. The daughter of Prajita Thapa KC of Gulmi Madane has not shown any signs of improvement even after 7 days of admission. Like her, 11-month-old Simran Paija also came here for treatment as she was severely malnourished. Even the granddaughter of Sita Paija of Ruppandehi has not improved well due to lack of medicine. Both of them were found to be suffering from severe malnutrition and reached Butwal for further treatment.
