By Mir Afroz Zaman, POBNEWS24, Dhaka, May 23, 2023 : An intelligence report of the police has expressed concern over the recent increase in the price of medicines in Bangladesh.
As the Department of Drug Administration does not have the jurisdiction to determine and control the prices of a large part of the drugs manufactured in the country, the price of drugs is beyond the reach of the common man due to lack of the imposition of reasonable price obligations and proper supervision.
According to the report, the price of medicines in the country has increased by almost 90 percent in the last one year due to the decrease in the import of raw materials, various medical devices and medicines. At the same time, the cost of medical equipment has doubled to four times in the last one year.
The report said that it is very important to immediately take effective measures to ensure healthcare by keeping the price of medical equipment within the affordability of common people, including essential and life-saving drugs.
The report, signed by Additional IGP Monirul Islam, Head of Special Branch (SB) of Police, was recently sent to the Secretary, Public Security Department, Ministry of Home Affairs.
The report from the Home Ministry’s Public Security Department has been sent to the Commerce Ministry, Health Service Department, Financial Institution Department, Health Education and Family Welfare Department and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
When asked, an official of the rank of additional secretary of the health service department said, “We have come to know about the intelligence report. To take effective measures in this regard, the secretary of the health department has directed the department of drug administration to take necessary measures. A meeting has already been held with all the stakeholders.
Additional Director General of the Department of Drug Ayub Hossain said, “When the price of all drugs increases, the price certificate must be taken from the Department of Drug Administration. But the department can give its full opinion on pricing of few generic drugs. Bringing the pricing of other generic drugs under the jurisdiction of the Department is actually a matter at the policy-making stage of the government”.
In this case, the manpower of the department should also be increased. Because the price increase of each drug has to be approved through multiple committees, he said.
The official of the Department of Drug Administration said, “Due to the increase in the import price of raw materials, the price increases. Apart from this, the price also varies from company to company. We generally take action on specific complaints regarding abnormal price hike.
According to sources in the Department of Drug Administration, in 1994 in an order of the Ministry of Health gave the Department of Drug Administration the jurisdiction to determine the prices of 117 generic essential drugs. However, more than 27 thousand drugs of about 150 generics are currently manufactured in the country. All but 117 manufactured drugs are priced by the manufacturing companies themselves. They only inform the Drug Administration about the price.
As a result, the drug administration department has no jurisdiction to determine and control the price of a large part of the drugs produced in the country. It happens due to lack of imposition of reasonable price obligation and proper supervision, hence the price of drugs is going beyond the reach of the common man.
According to the intelligence report, the overall cost of drug production has increased due to increase in drug packaging materials, transportation and marketing costs, electricity and fuel oil prices, dollar exchange rates, etc. However, the current increase in prices of drugs is not commensurate with the increase in production costs. Due to the abnormal increase in the price of medicines, access to treatment has become difficult for the poor and low-income population
