It is more than high time for the government to take stern measures against the persons involved in manufacturing and selling fake and sub standard medicines. The Ministry of Health, the apex body of the state, ought to formulate a policy and really enforce it, not in word but in deeds, to stem the rot for saving the lives of the people

Threat posed by fake and sub standard medicines

That fake and  sub standard medicines are being sold everywhere—from the capital city to the remote villages—is a matter of grave concern. Though this malpractice has been going on under the nose of the administration no action is being taken against the persons responsible. A report on this appeared in an  esteemed  daily newspaper on September 7. Though mobile courts conduct drives at times against spurious medicines, those fail to stop the heinous practice. What is worrying is that a section of officials of the administration and leaders of the Chemists and Druggists Association are also allegedly involved in this malpractice. Arrest of a former leader of the association by a mobile court on September 8 testifies to this.
According to sources, some medicines for cancer, kidney, heart and diabetes diseases are  found  as fake or sub standard. Needless to say the intake of fake,  sub standard and date-expired medicines are exposing the consumers to serious health hazards, even deaths in some cases. Why should the innocent people fall prey to the unbridled greed of these people ? Medicines are for  saving  life. But when the same take away life or undermine human health ,  then there  is no language strong enough to condemn the unconscionable wickedness involved.  
   It is the responsibility of the Department of Drug Administr-ation to ensure that fake and adulterated medicines cannot be produced and sold in the country. BSTI, another organisation of the government responsible for maintaining  quality of products, also has  a  vital role to play in this regard. It is also the duty of the members of the law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant against production and marketing of spurious medicines.
According to the Department of Drug Administration, 287 companies produce medicines in Bangladesh. Of them 30 to 40 companies maintain quality and their medicines are exported to different countries. The medicines produced by the remaining  companies do not enjoy such quality assurance . A section of doctors prescribe medicines of those companies in exchange for underhand financial benefits. Patients have no other alternative but to take such  medicines prescribed by their doctors. It is unfortunate to note that the doctors have become too much commercial minded at the cost of the life and health of their patients.
It is more than high time for  the government  to take stern measures against the persons involved in manufacturing and selling fake and sub standard medicines. The Ministry of Health, the apex body of the state,  ought to  formulate a policy  and really enforce it, not in word but in deeds, to stem the rot for saving the lives of the people.     

 

It is more than high time for the government to take stern measures against the persons involved in manufacturing and selling fake and sub standard medicines. The Ministry of Health, the apex body of the state, ought to formulate a policy and really enforce it, not in word but in deeds, to stem the rot for saving the lives of the people

Threat posed by fake and sub standard medicines

That fake and sub standard medicines are being sold everywherefrom the capital city to the remote villagesis a matter of grave concern. Though this malpractice has been going on under the nose of the administration no action is being taken against the persons responsible. A report on this appeared in an esteemed daily newspaper on September 7. Though mobile courts conduct drives at times against spurious medicines, those fail to stop the heinous practice. What is worrying is that a section of officials of the administration and leaders of the Chemists and Druggists Association are also allegedly involved in this malpractice. Arrest of a former leader of the association by a mobile court on September 8 testifies to this. According to sources, some medicines for cancer, kidney, heart and diabetes diseases are found as fake or sub standard. Needless to say the intake of fake, sub standard and date-expired medicines are exposing the consumers to serious health hazards, even deaths in some cases. Why should the innocent people fall prey to the unbridled greed of these people ? Medicines are for saving life. But when the same take away life or undermine human health , then there is no language strong enough to condemn the unconscionable wickedness involved. It is the responsibility of the Department of Drug Administr-ation to ensure that fake and adulterated medicines cannot be produced and sold in the country. BSTI, another organisation of the government responsible for maintaining quality of products, also has a vital role to play in this regard. It is also the duty of the members of the law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant against production and marketing of spurious medicines. According to the Department of Drug Administration, 287 companies produce medicines in Bangladesh. Of them 30 to 40 companies maintain quality and their medicines are exported to different countries. The medicines produced by the remaining companies do not enjoy such quality assurance . A section of doctors prescribe medicines of those companies in exchange for underhand financial benefits. Patients have no other alternative but to take such medicines prescribed by their doctors. It is unfortunate to note that the doctors have become too much commercial minded at the cost of the life and health of their patients. It is more than high time for the government to take stern measures against the persons involved in manufacturing and selling fake and sub standard medicines. The Ministry of Health, the apex body of the state, ought to formulate a policy and really enforce it, not in word but in deeds, to stem the rot for saving the lives of the people.