Syndication makes medicines costlier
Staff Reporter :
Medicines have become costlier in the local market due to syndication of the multi-national drug manufacturers, alleged the ruling party Lawmaker Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta.
He came up with the comment while addressing a launching ceremony of “Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) Round-11” project organized by the Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of Bangladesh (IACIB) at the city’s CIRDAP Auditorium on Monday.
“Several essential and cheap drugs have been banned and we are forced to use the costlier ones in the country due to recommendations of the multi-national drug manufacturers as we are not on the driving seat. This is unexpected,” said Gopal, also personal physician of the Prime Minister.
He further said that tuberculosis (TB) is a curable and preventable infectious disease, but due to the lack of inclusive programs, we are far behind in controlling the disease.
“Terrible pandemic like Covid-19 was controlled in just 3 years in the country for collective efforts and political commitment of the government. So, similar commitment is needed to control the TB disease by 2030 according to the United Nations declaration,” he added.
He emphasized the use of new preventive, diagnostic and treatment strategy in TB control and integration of the TB-CRG (Community, Rights and Gender) approach with the Global Fund.
He also assured that in the upcoming 78th session of the United Nations, in harmony with all the heads of state and government of the world, efforts will be made to deliver the political commitment of the PM to make Bangladesh TB free by 2030.
In his key-note paper, IACIB Director Savaronjon Sikder highlighted the TB-CRG for promoting rights of TB Community and eliminating harmful gender discrimination.
Prof Dr M A Faiz, Vice-Chairman of Global Fund BCCM, and former Director General of Health Service and Nazmul Haque Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare spoke as special guests, while IACIB founder Chairman Prof Dr Moazzem Hossain presided over the event.
