Kathmandu, March 21
Three government hospitals in Nepal will provide free medication for stroke (brain stroke) patients, the Ministry of Health and Population announced on Thursday.
The medication has been made available with the support of the US- based donor organisation Direct Relief and facilitated by One Heart Worldwide Nepal.
In the initial phase, the free medication will be provided at Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and Bharatpur Hospital, according to the ministry.
During the handover event, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel expressed gratitude to the donor organisations for making the expensive stroke medication available.
“This medicine was difficult to procure from the state budget and distribute to those in need. We aim to expand its availability to more hospitals as required and have also requested additional expensive medications from the donor organization,” he said.
Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, Director of the Management Division at the Department of Health Services, stated that the newly available medication is crucial in saving lives during stroke emergencies.
A total of 800 vials of the drug ‘Alteplase’ have been made available, he said.
“A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain suddenly becomes blocked. If this medication is administered within 4.5 hours, the patient’s life can be saved,” Dr Rayamajhi explained.
Each 20-milligram vial of the drug costs Rs 70,000, and its administration requires trained neurologists. “For this reason, we are initially distributing it through three hospitals, with plans to expand its availability to all federal hospitals in the provinces,” he added.
The medication is stored in the cold chain of the Department of Health Services at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and will be supplied as needed.
According to official data, 300 to 400 stroke patients seek medical treatment in Nepal each year.
