The
government plans to revive Nepal Drugs that has been closed since last three
years.
"The
government has decided to restart the closed Nepal Drugs to save the first
drugs manufacturer and supply cheap but quality drugs to the people," said
finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala, here today during the discussion on
Public Enterprises (PEs).
The
government will prepare a short-term plan to run Nepal Drugs, he said, adding
that the government enterprises should run professionally and competitively to
take the market, instead of discussing on jurisdiction.
The
participants, on the occasion, showed serious concern on low productivity of
the state-owned enterprises.
Nepal Drugs
will restart its operation under the Health Ministry but it has to be
competitive to remain in the market, suggested finance secretary Shanta Raj
Subedi. He also suggested the public enterprises not to dream of doing business
from the loan of the government. "
The
government buys Rs 1.20 billion worth medicines. "Nepal Drugs should be
operated in professional manner with quality control," suggested health
secretary Dr Prabin Mishra, on the occasion.
Nepal Drugs
that used to manufacture anti-diarrhea mixture Jeeval Jal, Citamol, and saline
water, has 240 employees, currently.
The
participants also recommended lay off of one fourth staff and government
guarantee to purchase its products.
However, the employees of Nepal Drugs have been opposing the plan
to pay them off.
In the past too, the government had tried to revive some of the
closed industry that could not become successful due to chronic political
bickering and politics of the employees unions that have eroded the
productivity but are getting salary from the national coffer misusing the
people's hard earned money paid as tax.
The Public Enterprise Board
had earlier valued the loss-making Nepal Drugs factory’s liabilities at around Rs
1.26 billion, whereas it has fixed assets worth Rs 5.37 billion.
No comments:
Post a Comment