Medicines that kill

The lives of millions of Nepalis who rely on quack medicines are on the line amid the state’s apathy.

These days, all ailments seem to have easy remedies. Alongside pharmacies and stores selling cure-all ayurvedic products, food supplements, nutraceuticals, and beauty ointments, the online space too is rife with influencers and health gurus peddling them. People are tricked into buying these so-called solutions without even knowing what really ails them, and unaware such things could harm their health. This is evident in the findings of the recent drug inspection by the Department of Drug Administration (DDA). Drug inspectors discovered unregistered dietary supplements and nutraceuticals in various forms, including tablets, capsules, and liquids, as well as beauty creams containing pharmaceutical ingredients sold in wholesale and retail pharmacies.