Pharmaceutical sector's development
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Firoz Ahmed
The government should immediately recognise the merit of accepting and working on the proposals that have been made by the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI). The BAPI has demanded giving of cash incentives to export-oriented pharmaceutical industries. Such incentives are being given to other export-oriented sectors and there is no reason for the pharmaceutical industries with so much export possibilities not to enjoy the same.
The other major demands is for the establishment of a government operated central testing laboratory for export- oriented pharmaceutical industries. The laboratory can be very useful in strengthening the reputation of local pharmaceutical products abroad through dependable quality certification. The BAPI also urged the establishment of an active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) making park. This project has been considerably advanced by the caretaker government with the acquisition of land and carrying out other preliminary works. The present government needs to be equally enthusiastic about this plan, if not more, to complete it at the fastest. The creation of such a park to set up API plants will likely much increase the value-addition and competitiveness of locally owned pharmaceutical industries.
Considerable hazards or bureaucratic obstacles are confronted by the pharmaceutical companies presently in sending samples abroad, to station or appoint representatives in foreign countries, in sending money for the purpose and doing other promotional activities. Government is expected to sort out these problems. Our foreign missions abroad should be directed to play a truly energetic role in searching markets and engaging in promotional activities for the pharmaceutical sector. The patent law of 1933 still remains though its suitable amendments are considered as necessary by exporters in the field to go for wider export activities.
The government should immediately recognise the merit of accepting and working on the proposals that have been made by the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI). The BAPI has demanded giving of cash incentives to export-oriented pharmaceutical industries. Such incentives are being given to other export-oriented sectors and there is no reason for the pharmaceutical industries with so much export possibilities not to enjoy the same.
The other major demands is for the establishment of a government operated central testing laboratory for export- oriented pharmaceutical industries. The laboratory can be very useful in strengthening the reputation of local pharmaceutical products abroad through dependable quality certification. The BAPI also urged the establishment of an active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) making park. This project has been considerably advanced by the caretaker government with the acquisition of land and carrying out other preliminary works. The present government needs to be equally enthusiastic about this plan, if not more, to complete it at the fastest. The creation of such a park to set up API plants will likely much increase the value-addition and competitiveness of locally owned pharmaceutical industries.
Considerable hazards or bureaucratic obstacles are confronted by the pharmaceutical companies presently in sending samples abroad, to station or appoint representatives in foreign countries, in sending money for the purpose and doing other promotional activities. Government is expected to sort out these problems. Our foreign missions abroad should be directed to play a truly energetic role in searching markets and engaging in promotional activities for the pharmaceutical sector. The patent law of 1933 still remains though its suitable amendments are considered as necessary by exporters in the field to go for wider export activities.