Free distribution of medicines is starting for hemophilia patients

Nepal Health News, Kathmandu – The preparation for the free distribution of medicines to hemophilia patients, as announced by Minister of Health and Population Pradeep Paudel, has been completed. Five types of essential medicines for the treatment of this hereditary bleeding disorder, in which blood does not clot properly, have been imported into Nepal.

This initiative is being carried out as per the agreement signed between the World Federation of Hemophilia and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Nepal on Falgun 4 (mid-February). According to Dr. Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, Head of the Logistics Management Division, the medicines have already arrived at the Department of Health Services and the distribution process will begin soon.

"Five types of medicines have arrived," said Dr. Rayamajhi, "A needs assessment will be done to prepare the distribution list, and the medicines will be dispatched to the respective hospitals."

The distribution will begin from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Bir Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, and Civil Hospital. Additionally, arrangements have been made to supply the medicines to 10 other provincial hospitals across all seven provinces.

Minister Paudel had made the decision on Magh 10 (late January) to provide hemophilia treatment through government hospitals. Since the treatment of this condition is very expensive, patients and stakeholders had been consistently urging the government to intervene.

According to Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, all five special types of medicines have been received and will now be distributed in phases.

As per the World Health Organization's estimates, around 5,000 hemophilia patients in Nepal may still be undiagnosed. Based on the 2021 national census, it is estimated that out of the 2.2% of the population with disabilities, about 0.8% could be affected by hemophilia.