PHARMACEUTICAL QUALITY SURVEILLANCE OF FREE MEDICINES IN NEPAL’S PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Abstract

The Government of Nepal provides essential medicines free of cost to improve accessibility and equity in healthcare. However, concerns have been raised regarding the quality, safety, and efficacy of these medicines, which directly influence patient outcomes and public trust in government health programs. The present study aimed to assess the quality of selected free medicines distributed across tertiary, secondary, and primary healthcare facilities in Nepal. Standard pharmacopoeial methods were employed to evaluate parameters such as identification, assay, dissolution, disintegration, weight variation, sterility, and labeling compliance. Samples were collected randomly from multiple distribution points to ensure representativeness. Results revealed that while a majority of medicines complied with pharmacopeial specifications, certain formulations exhibited deviations in assay values and dissolution profiles, raising concerns about therapeutic consistency. Labeling deficiencies and storage-related issues were also noted in some healthcare facilities. This study emphasizes the importance of continuous quality surveillance to ensure that government-supplied medicines are not only accessible but also safe and effective