No end to pharmaceutical malpractice

Any hope that the long-awaited court verdict on a number of child deaths caused by spurious paracetamol syrup would put a brake on pharmaceutical malpractices is simply misplaced. A report carried in this newspaper last Sunday highlights how extensively a large number of small drug companies are involved in manufacturing spurious medicines, particularly some running products of a few large and reputed ones. What is particularly mortifying is the fact that the country's drug administration is well aware of this notoriety. A highly placed leader of the Bangladesh Chemist and Druggist Association (BCDA) complains that the drug office turns a blind eye to this counterfeiting drug business. The drug administration office indirectly admits to this fact when it claims that lack of adequate manpower and intelligence does not help the cause of detecting either the spurious drugs or the companies manufacturing those. By using like-alike labels, packets and containers, these companies carry on the illegal business. They also find a ready accomplice in many of the wholesalers of drugs.

Clearly, an unholy nexus has developed centring around the business of spurious medicines. More perplexing is the fact that the leading pharmaceutical companies also have in their knowledge the copying of their quality drugs by some minnows in the industry. But they too are reluctant to move court cases against the offenders. Their reluctance stems, as they claim, from the fact that the drug administration does not or cannot act promptly because of shortage of manpower. Also, the administration is in no position to take punitive action against companies violating rules. All it can do is to file a case against those and wait for years. These are serious charges against the whole system. Evidently, the inherent flaws here should be removed and the sooner it is done the better. Indifference to such vital an issue as the manufacture and marketing of life-saving drugs is unacceptable.

Accusing fingers have been pointed to the majority of the country's 250 pharmaceutical companies barring only 40 leading ones which have together almost cent per cent market share. This again is a serious allegation. Why were so many companies issued licences in the first place? It seems, there is more to the fact than the drug administration is constrained by inadequate manpower. All this makes a case in favour of establishing a powerful office after the model of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America. An outfit of this stature is all the more necessary now that the country is grappling not only with the problem of spurious medicines but also with adulterated and chemically poisoned foods and fruits. Such a powerful, transparent and efficient office capable of taking up the twin challenges of foods and drugs alone can save the nation from the adverse effects of substandard drugs and poisoned foods. The nation is made to pay far too heavily on account of these malpractices. Establishing the proposed drug administration will cost only a fraction of that amount in absolute terms - let alone the long-term effects.