Kathmandu, Nov 9

Singhadurbar Vaidhyakhana, the state-owned entity for making Ayurvedic medicines with a history of 400 years, is gradually losing its brilliance lately.

Managerial loopholes, delay in supplies of raw materials and packaging commodities, financial woes and policy-level barriers are to blame for the current status of the age-old institution. The Singhadurbar Vaidhyakhana was expected to produce medicines worth Rs 250 million in a decade by its produce’s diversification and expansion.

However, the target is not likely to be met for its failure to work as planned. Currently, the institution is producing just 25 to 30 types of Ayurvedic medicines against 185 types being made in the past, officials said. The officials have blamed Managing Director Dr Banshadeep Kharel for the institution’s poor management and low production.

Failure to announce a tender notice to procure Sheelajit and unable to procure all the estimated medicinal herbs in the fiscal year 2067/077 and reduce the productions despite a huge demand for its products in the market have pushed the state-owned company downhill, it is argued. The demand for Ayurvedic products that boost the immune system in the human body has gone up in the recent days after the rising cases of the coronavirus infection in the Kathmandu valley. However, the government entity has failed to take benefit from it. Managing Director Dr Kharel, however, said that lack of timely availability of medicinal herbs was the key challenge for the Singhadurbar Vaidhyakhana.

He said that supply of medicinal herbs was a tough issue due to government’s negligence in promotion of medicinal herbs. Dr Kharel said that the demand for Guduchi Tea, Tulsi Tea, Jethimadhu, Amalaki, Ashwagandha and some other products is four times high these days. He argued that production of such products is stressed as per the demand of the market.