Kathmandu, Feb. 5 -- The Department of Drug Administration has recalled four medicines manufactured by three Nepali pharmaceutical companies after they were found substandard in laboratory testing.

These medicines, if used by patients, will not cure ailments and rather cause adverse effects, officials at the department, the national drug regulatory body, said.

They, however, concede that the drugs may have already been sold in the market and substandard medicines may have been taken by patients.

"Yes, there is a high chance that the substandard medicines might have already been sold," said Narayan Dhakal, director general of the department.

"Due to the sluggish testing process in our own labs, it takes a year for results to come out. ...