No policy should allow pharma cos to hike drug prices on a whim, says Bangladesh minister

He says they want to ensure the people and the government do not face troubles

Nobody wants a policy that allows the increase of medicine prices at the whim of pharmaceutical companies, says State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhith, stressing a "balance" between stakeholders.

At a consultative meeting in the capital on Monday, he said it is not fair to justify raising medicine prices the way the rates of daily essentials are often increased.

“Drug companies definitely need to make profits. Just as it is not right to keep medicine prices unchanged for years even when everything else gets dearer, we also don’t want a policy that legitimises a whimsical rise in medicine prices,” he said.

“Our main goal is to maintain a balance so the people and the government don’t face troubles.”

On a separate note, he said since assuming office, the BNP government has been witnessing “a state of disarray” in the health sector.

According to the minister, many hospitals have not had minimum maintenance for the last five to seven years.

“Some have buildings but no equipment, and some are struggling with a shortage of medicines,” he said.

Muhith said: “We have to work amidst this huge challenge. Added to this is the global adverse situation, further worsening the situation."

Emphasising the government's responsibility to the people, he said: "We want to ensure minimum healthcare and life-saving medicines for the people. We understand your problems and want to resolve them quickly.

“If we do not solve them collectively, the (pharmaceutical) industry and the country will suffer."