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Drug manufacturers urge government to assign essential medicine production to EDCL

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The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) has urged the government to assign the production of essential medicines to state-owned Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL).

BAPI leaders said it is difficult for private pharmaceutical companies to produce many essential medicines and remain commercially viable. They called for a greater role for EDCL in producing and supplying such medicines.

The demand was made at an exchange meeting between BAPI and the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum at BAPI’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Monday.

Dr Md Zakir Hossain, former BAPI secretary general and managing director of Delta Pharma, said essential medicines must remain adequately stocked and readily available at healthcare facilities and in the market.

He said a large portion of medicines supplied to patients at government hospitals is procured from EDCL, which also has five production facilities across the country.

“Since EDCL already produces medicines for the government and receives state support, it can be assigned responsibility for producing medicines on the essential drugs list,” he said.

BAPI Secretary General Mohammad Halimuzzaman said the essential medicines list should be updated according to current needs while ensuring quality and affordability.

He said producing many essential medicines is not economically viable for private companies. Of the 117 medicines included in the essential drugs list formulated in 1994, only a small number are currently being produced, he added.

BAPI Senior Vice-President Md Mosaddeq Hossain stressed the need to protect Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, saying the country has achieved significant self-sufficiency in medicine production and competes in international markets, including with India.

BAPI leaders called for a balanced government policy to ensure the availability of essential medicines while protecting the competitiveness and growth of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.