Health Action Fund: TI Nepal report on the policies and practices of the government of Nepal on the free distribution of medicines

The Transparency International’s Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Programme funds national and local projects conducted by TI chapters worldwide.

In this project TI Nepal examined the Government of Nepal’s distribution of seventy medicines free of cost to all of its citizens. The research process included a survey to collate the experiences and perception of local citizens and health institutions across fourteen districts of Nepal.

The study identified a number of challenges pertaining to the distribution of free medicine including the lack of timely availability to free medicines, demand exceeding domestic supply, procurement and distribution of medicines that are close to expiry, and delays in budget disbursement.