The health ministry has expressed concern over the rise in prices of some life-saving drugs and warned that it will take actions against those responsible for the abnormal price hike in the retail market.
"We'll look into the matter. The ministry must take steps against those responsible for such abnormal price hike of medicine," Minister of Health and Family Welfare A F M Ruhul Haque told the FE.
There is specific law in the country to protect medicine market from artificial short-supply, the minister said adding that whoever is responsible for the price hike must be brought to book.
"The ministry has already been informed about current medicine price situation," he added.
According to a market survey by the FE, price of some life-saving drugs have witnessed abnormal hike, for what the manufacturer and wholesale market leaders are blaming each other.
Medicines that are selling at high prices include Fiambupol of Sanofi-aventis Bangladesh Ltd, Varospiron tablet of Ambee Pharmaceutical Ltd., Lasix of Sanofi-aventis, Folic Acid tablet Folison and Osmasol of Beximco Pharmaceutical Ltd.
"It happens every time. Some medicines frequently get short in supply, particularly when they are in high demand," said Rabiul Islam, who came to Shahbagh to buy medicine.
Admitting his complaints, owner of the United Medical Store Raju Ahmed, blamed the wholesalers for increasing the medicine prices.
"Wholesalers charge higher, claiming short supply of medicine. In such case, we have no option but to charge higher price or stop selling at all," retail medicine seller Raju told the FE.
Similarly, deputy secretary of Bangladesh Chemist and Druggist Samity (BCDS) Monir Hossain, blamed medicine producers for taking advantage of the lax regulatory measures of the government.
On the other hand, president of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI), Salman F Rahman denied the allegation against the drug manufacturers. He said there is little scope of manipulating drug market as all prices are determined by the government. |
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