Excess to healthcare for low-income people will be harder as drug prices to go up

Prices of 53 essential drug brands of 20 generics used in primary healthcare will go up from this month with the government allowing an increase for the scheduled drugs up to 100 per cent. The drug pricing committee of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has increased the prices at its 58th meeting on 30 June and the Health Ministry reportedly approved the new price list. A news report published in this daily on Sunday said the new price list is being implemented after seven years. Last time prices were revised in 2015.
According to the new price list of 117 drugs, one piece of Paracetamol will cost Tk 1.20 against the previous price of Tk 0.70. Access to healthcare for low-income people will be harder in the coming days and the progress in child mortality reduction and universal healthcare will be compromised.
In the context of spiraling prices of essential commodities, the latest price hike of drugs has come as a shock to common people amid the ongoing economic crises and inflation. But the DGDA has claimed to have increased the prices following rules. Of the 53 drug brands, the price of 10 Paracetamol generics has been increased while the prices of six Metronidazole generics have also been increased. Besides, the prices of Amoxicillin, Xylometazoline, Prochlorperazine, Diazepam, Methyldopa, Furosemide, Phenobarbital, Lidocaine, Folic Acid, Chlorphenamine, Benzathine benzylpenicillin, Aspirin Phenoxymethyl Penicillin, Norgestrel, Feros have increased from 50 per cent to 100 percent.
Sources at the DGDA said the government has the power to fix the prices of 117 drugs listed for primary healthcare. The price has been raised due to a hike in raw materials, packaging materials, transportation, distribution, and other charges. The new prices have been effective and the drug manufacturers can apply to increase drug prices as per the cost. Experts said people will suffer more amid this economic crisis if drug prices are increased. But, they added it has become necessary to increase the prices as most of the raw materials are imported, and the Covid pandemic, Ukraine-Russia war, and inflation have also triggered the price hike.
We ask the government to revise its decisions and allow diverse medicine in the public healthcare facilities free of cost for the interest of the country’s low-income group of people.