Kathmandu, Aug. 24 -- Cancer patients are paying exorbitant prices for platinum-based chemotherapy medicines at private pharmacies because the drugs are not available at pharmacies in state-run health facilities.

As cancer treatment cannot be postponed or interrupted, families are forced to buy the medicines, including carboplatin, cisplatin and oxaliplatin, from private pharmacies, often at prices far above the government-set rates.

"The situation has improved compared to when these medicines were completely unavailable even outside the hospital," said Dr Uttam Nepal, acting executive director of the Chitwan-based BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital. "Patients are now bringing the medicines from outside, even if they have to pay high p...