A local English daily newspaper has reported that the government plans to include some new generic drugs in the 'controlled price' list, as currently many decontrolled drugs are becoming unaffordable to the people.
More than 50 per cent price-controlled drugs are not available in the market owing, apparently, to the sellers' low profit margin. Drug producers are interested to produce drugs which do not require price approval from the Drug Administration in order to earn higher profits. Since 1994, drug producers have been searching for new generics, which are widely used by the patients for more effectiveness. One may recall that the National Drug Policy of 1982 has boosted the local pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh.
The pharmaceutical products cover more than 95 per cent of domestic demand. These products were exported to 64 countries from Bangladesh last year.
The price of medicines has skyrocketed in the domestic market in the last couple of years. The majority of the people in Bangladesh cannot afford such high-priced medicines. It is a matter of concern that the same generic medicines are being sold at different prices under different brand names.
The drug policy needs to be amended to ensure that the pharmaceutical companies take approval for all drugs, other than vitamins, from the Drug Administration before fixing their prices.
Md. Ashraf Hossain
mah120cb@yahoo.com
\\\'Controlled price list\\\' of drugs
FE Team | Published: August 30, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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