Poison Information Centre established at TUTH

KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, has pointed out the need of expanding ‘Poison Information Centre’ service to local level.

Inaugurating the ‘Poison Information Centre’ service established by Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Clinical Pharmacology Department here today, Minister Basnet said the Teaching Hospital has been carrying out remarkable works in education and health sector.

“This centre will provide service as the telemedicine to end the problems surfaced in treatment of poison consumption. The service will come into operation immediately after providing the contact number provided by the Teaching Hospital in all wards”, he mentioned.

Presenting the data that around 6,933 people commit suicide every year in Nepal, Dr Rakesh Ghimire shared that of them, 18-20 per cent commit suicide consuming poison.

Similarly, Dr Ramu Pokharel shared that the information centre could save lives of many people. Research and Policy associate professor of the Centre, Dr Pradeep Gyawali, said the service could be expanded after identifying problems according to country’s geography.

The Clinical Pharmacology Department of the TUTH brought the ‘Poison Information Centre’ in operation. The centre was established with an objective of providing appropriate suggestions and advice through experts in order to reduce mortality rate of poisoned persons making the treatment effective.

The centre will provide necessary information within 24 hours. According to the Department, one can call at 01-4502011 if he/she has any enquiry regarding treatment after consumption of poison. It is the first centre in Nepal established institutionally to provide information regarding treatment after poising, it is said.