November 10: The demand for medicines which had declined after the government imposed lockdown in March has once again increased.

The demand for medicines took a free fall after the government imposed lockdown on March 24. The supply of medicines was also affected after India and China banned the export of certain drugs.

However, drug manufacturers and dealers say that the sale of medicines has increased after the government lifted lockdown in July. The demand once again plunged after the government issued prohibitory orders a month later.

Drug manufacturers reduced their production due to the low demand for medicines back then.

The demand for all other medicines except those for emergency and chronic illness was almost zero. The drug manufacturers of Nepal lowered their production by almost 70 percent.

The demand for medicines gradually increased after the government lifted the prohibitory orders in the second week of September. The drug manufacturers have since then imported a record high amount of raw materials required for production of medicines.

According to the Department of Customs, raw materials worth Rs 10.5 billion and medicines worth Rs 18.83 billion were imported to Nepal in June/July. The import of medicines declined in July/August but again increased in August/September, according to the data kept by the department.

According to Narayan Bahadur Chhetri, president of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, people were afraid to visit hospitals during the lockdown period which led to the decline in sale of medicines. However, the sale of medicines increased after people overcame their fears and started visiting hospitals.

However, Chhetri argues that the data of the Department of Customs show an increase in import of sanitizers, masks and other health equipment but not medicines.

He further said that although there is more demand for medicines as compared to the lockdown period, the demand is yet to return to the previous level.