Uncontrolled drug market in Sylhet: Low-quality medicine to make extra profits
Sylhet Correspondent :
Nasima Begum of Sylhet went to buy Rhophylac 300 (Ing. Anti-D), DOM 04.2022, EXP. 03.2025, LOT P100452857, Manufactured by CSL Behring AG, Input International Agencies Bangladesh Limited, from DBL Pharmacy in Sobhanighat, on January 10, for her granddaughter. When she went to buy it, they took it out of the fridge and said it would cost 4 thousand taka. Since she had little money at that time, she went home.
The next day at 11 am, when she went to buy the same Ing. Anti-D again, the pharmacy person asked her to pay 25 hundred taka, then when she asked for a memo, the pharmacy person told Nasima that foreign medicine memos cannot be given. At one point of the request, they gave a memo.
When Nasima went to the doctor with the medicine, the doctor asked how he sold medicine worth 4720 taka for 2500 taka. Surely there was a problem, then he checked and found that the medicine was not expired. Later, when Nasima informed other pharmacies in Sobhani Ghat, they could not give any decision.
Then Nasima Begum was forced to file a complaint with the Sylhet Consumer Rights, Drug Super Office yesterday. In view of this complaint, a raid was conducted on the city’s Sobhani Ghat by the BL pharmacy led by the Sylhet Drug Super.During this, several expired medicines were seized.
Hundreds of such Nasimas are constantly being cheated by Sylhet pharmacy traders. Even after that, they did not understand. It seems that no one is watching.
The biggest market for wholesale medicines in Sylhet is the Famous Market in South Surma. Most of the pharmacies here sell illegal medicines. Besides, foreign cosmetics products are also sold. Apart from adulterated medicines, free government medicines are available in pharmacies.
Anti-adulteration campaigns are occasionally conducted here. But they do not yield much results. Due to this, the sale of unregistered medicines in the market is not being stopped.
Investigation revealed that adulterated and expired medicines are often sold in BR Drugs, Selim Drugs, Famous Drugs, Oishi Drugs, Jannat Drugs, Bismillah Drugs, Majumdar Drugs,
Bismillah Market, Ahmed Medicine Complex, Famous Market on the 2nd and 3rd floors in the Puler Mukh area of South Surma in the city.
These medicines are constantly delivered to different parts of the district through designated salesmen and agents. Although campaigns are conducted occasionally, they are not appropriate.
Some traders said that they stock these medicines in the hope of profit because doctors prescribe foreign medicines in patients’ prescriptions.
According to the information of the Sylhet branch of the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Association, there are about five hundred drug shops in the market of Sylhet. There are 2 to 2.5 thousand chemist members registered with our association in the entire district. Who keep the drug market strong throughout the district.
However, adulterated and counterfeit drugs are sold in most cases in various neighborhoods and neighborhoods other than the well-known drug markets or pharmacies of the city.
The president of the Sylhet branch of the Chemists and Druggists Association, Mainul Haque Chowdhury, said that most of the adulterated drugs are sold in unregistered pharmacies. These shops are under our surveillance. He sought the attention of the appropriate authorities in this regard.
Sylhet Drug Super Shamim Ahmed requested to go to the office to talk directly if he wanted to know more about the operation.
Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Administration, Sylhet, said,A drive was conducted at The BL Pharmacy in the wake of the complaint.Expired medicines were seized during the operation. He said that regular operations will be conducted to keep the medicine market stable.