Friday | 10 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Friday | 10 January 2025 | Epaper

Rising medicine cost hits poor patients hard

Published : Saturday, 28 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 339
Nafew Sajed Joy
The escalating cost of essential goods has made daily life increasingly difficult for ordinary Bangladeshis. Struggling to afford crucial items, with traffic congestion and rising LPG gas prices, the public is now burdened by the soaring cost of medicines. The price of essential medications, including those for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, children's cough syrups, antibiotics, painkillers, and vitamins, has surged by as much as 110%, with an average increase of 29%. This unchecked rise in medicine prices has become a grave concern in a country already grappling with the high cost of living.

For many families, the rising costs are no longer just figures-they are a matter of life and death. A family with asthma and diabetic patients, for example, may now spend half of their monthly income on medications, forcing them to cut back on food and other essentials. This stark reality reflects the dire situation for countless households nationwide.

In April 2024, a report revealed that pharmaceutical companies had increased the prices of at least 50 types of medicine by 20 to 140 percent within just two months. This price hike marks the second increase in medicine prices this year alone. Despite an order from the High Court in April for effective measures to prevent such hikes, the price surge continues to burden the general population with an overwhelming financial burden.

The court issued its order after pharmaceutical companies raised prices without restraint, exploiting the lack of strict regulatory oversight. Despite the Health Service Division and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) being tasked with controlling drug pricing under Section 30 of the Drug and Cosmetics Act 2023, this unlawful practice continued. The law, however, permits drug manufacturers to set prices for over 97% of the roughly 20,000 branded medicines produced in the country, leaving the authorities responsible for regulating only 460 drugs with 117 generic names.

This regulatory loophole, combined with corporate greed and insufficient enforcement, has led to an unchecked rise in medicine prices, leaving the public to bear the brunt of this crisis. The silent crisis threatens public health and exacerbates the financial strain on families forced to choose between their health and economic survival.

The ordinary people of Bangladesh are facing a relentless financial strain due to the soaring prices of essential medicines. Despite fixed prices when purchasing directly from pharmaceutical companies, the cost of medications varies significantly depending on the location and pharmacy. This inconsistency in pricing disproportionately affects the ordinary buyer, who often bears the brunt of this volatility.

The price surge in essential medicines over the past three months reflects a substantial overall increase, with prices for a wide range of medications rising by varying degrees. On average, the prices of several key drugs, including painkillers, heart disease treatments, diabetes medication, and gastric treatments, have increased by 20-30%, with some experiencing even sharper hikes. For example, the price of medicines like Dydron and Dienogest saw increases of over 200%, while others like Mervan and Famotac rose by 30-40%. This widespread price hike, averaging a 50% increase in overall medicinal expenses, exacerbates the financial burden on patients, particularly those with chronic conditions who rely on these treatments for long-term management.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) maintains a list of essential drugs, with prices fixed by the DGDA for 117 of these medications. For the remaining drugs, manufacturers propose price hikes, which the DGDA subsequently approves. However, pharmaceutical companies often increase prices before seeking approval, leading to a lack of oversight in the process. Approvals are granted before discussions with the Ministry of Health, and there is insufficient opportunity to verify the source, quality, or cost of raw materials.

In the South Asian region, countries have adopted varied strategies to regulate medicine prices and ensure public access to affordable healthcare.

In India, the regulation of medicine prices is managed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), established in 1997. The NPPA enforces the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), which sets maximum retail prices (MRP) for essential medicines listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). Pharmaceutical companies are required to adhere to these price limits. For instance, in April 2024, the NPPA allowed a marginal price increase of just 0.0055% for medicines under the NLEM to account for inflation adjustments.

The Drug Regulatory Authority oversees medicine pricing in Pakistan under the Drug Pricing Policy. The Ministry of Health has proposed amending the Drug Act of 1976 to empower the government to regulate the prices of imported raw materials and finished drugs. This reform aims to tackle rising medicine costs and improve affordability for the public.

In Nepal, the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) is responsible for setting prices for 96 essential medicines through its Drug Price Monitoring Committee. However, the committee is currently inactive. Stakeholders have recommended the creation of an autonomous body, including market experts and economists, to oversee regular price reviews. Further suggestions include promoting generic prescribing and optimizing local manufacturing to reduce medicine prices.

In Bhutan, the government has implemented strategies to regulate medicine prices, focusing on enhancing access to affordable healthcare. The country is strengthening policies to ensure life-saving medicines are accessible to all, which is in line with its universal health coverage goals. Key recommendations include harmonizing medicine pricing policies, improving regulatory frameworks, and promoting sustainable, country-led reforms to ensure long-term affordability and access.
These regional strategies showcase the diverse approaches each country has taken to manage medicine prices while striving to ensure that essential medications remain affordable and accessible to their populations.

To address the challenges of rising medicine prices in Bangladesh, several measures should be taken:
*    Eliminating Unhealthy Marketing Practices: The pharmaceutical industry must be regulated to eliminate unhealthy marketing tactics. Medicines should be referred to by their generic names rather than brand names to ensure transparency and reduce consumer confusion.

*    Government Price Regulation: The government should take responsibility for setting and regulating medicine prices, supported by rigorous monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance with established price limits.

*    Transparent Price Lists: The Ministry of Drug Administration should maintain an easily accessible and regularly updated list of retail prices for all medicines on its website. This would enable consumers to compare prices and make informed choices.

*    Capping Pharmaceutical Profit Margins: Pharmaceutical companies' profit margins should be capped to ensure that medicines remain affordable without compromising quality.

*    Public Awareness and Use of Apps: Public awareness about tools like MedEx, which provides drug price information, should be increased. Efforts should be made to educate the public on utilizing such platforms as part of their daily healthcare management.

*    Encouraging Fair Pricing: Pharmacists and sellers should be encouraged, and potentially mandated, to sell medicines at fair and regulated prices, ensuring that the pharmaceutical market operates in the best interest of consumers.

*    Centralized Pricing Portal: A centralized government website or portal should be developed to consolidate the prices of essential goods and services, including medicines. This would improve accessibility, enhance price transparency, and promote better regulation.

By implementing these measures, Bangladesh can foster a more transparent, regulated, and affordable pharmaceutical market and ensure that essential medicines are accessible to all citizens.

The writer is a researcher 



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