Bangladesh government forms 22-member Drug Advisory Council

The government of Bangladesh formed a 22-member National Drug Advisory Council (NDAC) to support the development of the country’s pharmaceutical sector, implement the National Drug Policy and ensure the availability of essential medicines.

“The Health and Family Welfare Minister will serve as the chair of the council, while the secretary of the ministry will act as member-secretary,” according to a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division’s Committee Affairs Branch on Sunday, reports BSS.

Members of the council include: the state minister for health and family welfare, the prime minister’s special assistant on health affairs, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), secretary of the Finance Division, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and secretaries of several ministries and divisions, among others.
Vice-chancellors of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), along with representatives from academia, professional bodies and business organisations, including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) and Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Society, have also been included.

According to the gazette, the council will advise the government on implementing the National Drug Policy, promoting the domestic pharmaceutical industry and ensuring adequate production and supply of medicines to meet national demand.

It will also recommend formulation and biennial updating of the essential medicines list covering allopathic, ayurvedic, unani, homeopathic, biochemical, herbal and veterinary medicines.