Drug admn sounds alarm on entry of banned drugs

Increased entry of banned drugs and medical devices into the country through false declaration and without approval of the drug administration (DA) has raised grave concern among the authorities concerned.
The DA in a recent letter to the revenue board has made known its concern to the latter, officials said.
In the letter, the director general (DG) of the DA Major General Jahangir Hossain Mallik proposed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to release imported drugs from ports in presence of a representative of the drug administration or obtain approval of the office before releasing those.
"Drug administration is willing to work together with the customs authorities to thwart illegal import of drugs and medical devices," he wrote.
Citing customs intelligence sources, the DA said the customs authorities had released a huge number of infusion sets, disposable syringes and other medical devices and a substantial quantity of drugs and medicines during the July 2011-July '13 period without the approval of the licencing authority (DA).
In a joint move on October 23 and December 31, customs and DA authorities seized some 31 types of banned drugs that were brought into the country illegally from Egypt and Turkey.
From the consignment of Egypt, the authorities seized three types of drugs: Tablet Clomid (clomiphene citrate), Injection Modecate (fluphenazine) and Injection Neurobion (vitamin B1+B6+B12). Importers brought those drugs as food supplement through false declaration. A total of 28 types of illegally imported medicines including anti-cancer drugs, immunosuppressive drugs, anti-diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs, lipid lowering drugs were also imported from Turkey through DHL courier.
A standing committee on Import, comprising experts from different agencies, gives approval (indent) to import of drugs into the country. The DA issues clearance for the imported drugs after verification of necessary documents.
"It is urgent to check entry of such drugs and medical devices through false declaration. It may pose serious threat to public health," the DA's letter said.
Talking to the FE Friday, the DG of the DA said any type of drug imported without registration of the authorities are considered as illegal or banned.
"We have expressed concern as it is a matter related to public health. Many such drugs are being imported through land, air or sea ports," he added.
Some importers bring those drugs though courier services which is difficult to trace, he said.
In the letter, the drug administration sought details of seized and illegal drugs, infusion sets and medical devices, and wanted to know about the action taken against the importers. It also sought information on the present condition of these seized drugs.
Customs commissioner (Dhaka) Zakia Sultana said usually customs authorities destroy the seized drugs once or twice a year in presence of officials from the relevant departments, including representatives from the environment department.
About the presence of a representative of the drug administration, she said it was matter of 'policy formulation'.
"Without an import policy order, we cannot take such a decision as it might be considered as a trade barrier," she added.
A senior health ministry official said some people bring the banned drugs in their baggage, which cannot be traced.
Commercial import of 'illegal' drugs can be checked through effective monitoring by both the authorities, he added.