Government Vaccines Expire Due to Ineffective Management, Causing Financial Loss

Kathmandu. Vaccines provided by the government under the National Immunization Program are found to be wasted every year. Vaccines have been wasted due to ineffective determination of vaccine needs and management of utilization. The government has wasted vaccines worth Rs 41 crore 4 lakh 82 thousand due to non-compliance with approved standards for storage and utilization in Nepal. According to the details provided by the Department of Health Services, while testing the wastage rate of 10 types of vaccines, government vaccines worth Rs 41 crore 4 lakh 82 thousand were wasted while vaccinating 54 lakh 68 thousand 295 people. Among them, BCG vaccine is seen to be wasted at 82 percent and other vaccines at an average of 36 percent. The 63rd report of the Auditor General has pointed out the need to reduce the wastage rate by utilizing vaccines according to approved standards.

The 62nd report of the Auditor General 2082 had pointed out serious negligence and legal errors in the government's vaccine management. As per the provisions of the Vaccine Act, 2072, there is a legal provision to immediately purchase vaccines during epidemics or natural disasters and to establish a separate vaccine fund for study and research, but the concerned department had deposited the amount in the operational fund without establishing a separate fund. While Rs 37 crore 57 lakh 87 thousand had been collected in the vaccine fund until last year, an additional allocated Rs 3 crore was frozen without being deposited in the fund. According to the 61st report of the Auditor General, 44 lakh 95 thousand 192 doses of vaccines were wasted.