RAJSHAHI, Apr 15: The price of life saving drugs has been increased alarmingly in the country. Most of the precious drugs are now out of purchasing capacity of common people. A drug syndicate is active in controlling the drug markets of Rajshahi. The monitoring system of drug administration is also inactive to control the price of drugs.
Dr Masum Habib, Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi Medical University informed, the unusual price hike of essential drugs was a great threat for health sector in the country. He further added, to lead a healthy life, millions of people of the country are required to purchase daily medicine. But, the exorbitant price of drug was making it almost impossible for purchasing those by poor and middle income group of people. If no immediate step to control price of drug is taken, the health care facilities of the country would be threatened. That is why, he thinks, step should be taken against the drug syndicate. He also said the physicians would be more careful in not prescribing excessive and unnecessary drugs for any patient.
Biswanath Ghose, a tea stall owner in Shaheb Bazar area, said he has been suffering from pain of spinal cord for a long time. He needs to purchase drugs worth Tk 122 daily for his treatment but recently the price of some essential drugs has been increased abnormally and he was in a dilemma how he will bear the extra cost of drugs. "I have to manage a eight member family including my aged parents. It is hard to manage a fair meal of the family members by selling tea let alone to manage the price of drugs. We have no way but to die without proper treatment", Mr Ghose added.
After visiting various drug markets of the city, it was noticed price of many essential drugs have been increased double than the previous rate. The Vitamin Neuro-B of Square Pharamacuticals was being sold at Tk 150 weeks ago which is now increased to Tk 240, Tablet Bextram Gold was being sold at Tk 140 earlier which is now being sold at Tk 240, Tablet Zynet of Beximco Pharma was being sold Tk 200 a box which is now being sold at Tk 300, C vit of Square Pharma was being sold at Tk 300 a box which is now being sold at Tk 475, expectorant syrup Adovas of Square Pharma was being sold at Tk 50 per bottle now it is sold at Tk 60, Diabetes Tablet Secrin-1 and Secrin-2 (Square) were being sold at Tk 280 to 300 a box now which are sold at Tk 36o to 360. Price of acidity drug tablet Neotek was increased by Tk 90 per box while inhaler (Beximco) was being sold at Tk 160 a piece which now stands at Tk 200, tablet Angitor-10 (Square) was being sold at an increased rate of Tk 60 per box than the previous rate.
Ayesha Akhter, a college teacher informed, she requires drugs worth Tk 200 daily in her house for administering those to her ailing husband and herself but due to increase of price of drugs, they were feeling helpless. She complained, by increasing the price of drugs, the entire health sector in the country was dragged to a disastrous condition.
Anowar Baset, Assistant Director of Rajshahi Drug Administration informed, the drug administration has nothing to take action against the drugs where the maximum retailed price (MRP) has been inscripted but the administration will take action against those companies selling drugs without mentioning MRP on the packages/bottles of drugs.
Mopniruzzaman Moni, president of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCC), said not only the price of essential drugs has been increased but also price of all essential commodities and construction materials has been increased abnormally. The present market was unstable and he hoped the government would take measure to contain and decrease the market price of all essential commodities including drugs.
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