Kathmandu, Aug. 24 -- The Ministry of Health has decided to allow foreign companies to perform Phase III clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine in Nepal. According to Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the Health Ministry, the ministry has directed the Nepal Health Research Council to grant permission to companies fulfilling all necessary procedures.

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the world, posing an unprecedented challenge to humanity, major world powers are racing to develop and produce the vaccine.

China has said it began inoculating high-risk groups in July. Russian President Vladimir Putin said two weeks ago that Russia was the first country to register a vaccine offering sustainable immunity to Sa...