The relentless surge in prices of essential commodities has left the public in distress in Bangladesh. Among these rising costs, pharmaceutical drugs have witnessed a significant increase, straining the healthcare system and impacting patients' medical expenses.
The increase in the dollar rate, and the increase in the price of raw materials in the international market are cited by the pharmaceutical industry as the reason for the increase in the price of medicines.
Nurul Alam, deputy director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration told Bangladesh Pratidin, there are about 1,650 generic’s 25,000-30,000 products in the country's drug market. Of these, 460 drugs of 117 generics are fixed by the Drug Administration. Other companies calculate the cost and propose a price.
“We adjust prices inclusive of VAT. Every drug company has hiked the prices of most medicines citing the increase in the cost of raw materials. Regularly these applications are submitted to the drug administration. The Technical Committee and the High-Level Committee on Pricing review and approve these.”
“Libra appealed to raise the price of saline. The price was fixed by the Department of Medicines Administration after coordination in terms of application. But as they do not think this price is profitable, the company has filed a writ in the High Court,” he added.
According to inquiries in the capital's pharmacies, fexofenadine has increased from 8 taka to 9 taka per piece. Azithromycin per piece increased from Tk 35 to Tk 40. Montelukast has increased from Tk 16 to Tk 17.50 per piece. The price of vitamin B1 B6 B12 per piece has been increased from Tk 7 to Tk 10 in two steps. The price of Esmiprazole per piece has increased from Tk 5 to Tk 7. The price of Losartan Potassium 50 mg per piece has been reduced from Tk 8 to Tk 10. The price of 10 pieces of paracetamol 500 mg has increased from Tk 8 to Tk 12. The price of Paracetamol 665 mg 10 pcs drug has increased from Tk 15 to Tk 20. The price of paracetamol syrup has increased from Tk 20 to Tk 35. The price of Amlodipine Atenolol 5mg has been increased from Rs.6 to Rs.8. The price of Bromazepam 3mg has been increased from Rs.5 to Rs.7. It used to cost 50 takas to buy 10 pitches, now it will cost 70 takas. Aspirin 75 mg price of 10 pieces per sheet was Rs.5, now it is Rs.8.
Saiful Islam, an employee of a private organization, came to buy medicine at the pharmacy named RK Medical Hall in New Bazaar. He said that the prices of rice, dal, oil, and vegetables are increasing. If the price of anything goes up, we reduce consumption. After the increase in oil prices, I reduced my oil purchases. I am suffering from high blood pressure. To control it, you have to take medicine regularly as per the doctor's advice. Earlier I used to buy one leaf of medicine for 80 taka. Now it has to be bought for 100. Income remains the same while expenses continue to rise. If you want to live, you have to buy medicine. How can I reduce this cost?
Bangladesh Chemist and Druggist Samity director Zakir Hossain Rony told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Customers come to buy medicine and ask us why the price is high. However the pharmacy owners did not increase the price, the company increased it. There is nothing we can do if we increase the MRP rate. The drug administration should keep the market and the consumer in mind while increasing the price of drugs.”
According to the Health Economics Unit of the Ministry of Health, currently, the individual's own expenditure for treatment in Bangladesh is 68.50 percent. Of this, 64 percent is spent on medicine.
Professor Md Anwar Khusro Parvez .. Professor and Researcher, Department of Microbiology at Jahangirnagar University told Bangladesh Pratidin, that the price of essential medicines is increasing in parallel with the increase in daily necessities for daily living. People are not able to run this race. The country's top six companies have hiked the prices of 234 life-saving drugs by 10 to 50 percent.
“There are complaints that many drugs are being sold in the market at higher prices than the prescribed price. In this case too, as an excuse for increasing the prices, the companies have said, the Corona epidemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the increase in the price of raw materials in the global market, the dollar crisis, LC complications, supply problems including an increase in gas-electricity prices, packaging, transportation, increase in marketing expenses, etc.”
“Many patients will not be able to buy medicine if the price is increased suddenly. And if the dose is not completed, it can have serious effects on the body. Drug administration has no initiative to control prices. The list of essential medicines in the country should be enlarged according to the WHO list. The government should increase surveillance to control the price. The rest should be forced to follow the rules in selling. The price of all medicines should be determined on the basis of the formula prescribed by the government,” he added.
S M Shafiuzzaman. Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Earlier, the cost of opening an LC for importing raw materials of medicine was 80 rupees per dollar. Now the dollar price has reached 120 taka. As per the price policy, the MRP product price is to be determined by checking the financial condition of the market every year. But it has not been done in 20 years.”
“Paracetamol is consumed by children, so the manufacturing companies have not objected even though it has caused financial losses. The price of raw materials in the international market has also gone up. Now it is difficult for the organization to survive without increasing the price of some medicines. In view of this, some prices of MRP products have increased,” he added.
(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 30 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
