Dirgha Raj Joshi

You are already at the latest version Rational use of medicines (RUM) is a cornerstone of safe, effective, and affordable health care. In Nepal, irrational medicine use-particularly of antibiotics-remains widespread, driven by self-medication, over-the-counter (OTC) sales without prescription, inappropriate prescribing practices, weak regulatory enforcement, and commercial influences.

This version is not peer-reviewed. Bishesh Bista,Dirgha Raj Joshi  * Bishesh Bista,Dirgha Raj Joshi  * You are already at the latest version Background: Effective pharmacy regulation is a cornerstone of patient safety and rational medicine use. In Nepal, despite the existence of regulatory frameworks such as the Drug Act 2035 and policies restricting non-prescription sales of antibiotics, enforcement is weak and inconsistent, leading to widespread regulatory failure in community pharmacies.