Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka鈥檚 Savar on Saturday said that due to the national drug policy, 98 per cent of the total drugs were being produced in the country.
Savar Gonoshasthaya Kendra organised the seminar titled 鈥�42 years of national drug policy 1982: Achievements and future鈥� at its PHA auditorium, said a press release.
Speakers said that extensive development of the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh, ensuring drug safety and quality improvement, and regulating drug prices, had been established due to the policy.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University pharmacology department professor Sayedur Rahman said that in 1982, Gonoshasthaya Kendra and Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury鈥檚 involvement in the national drug policy formulation committee changed the course of the entire process.
In the 8-member committee, led by national professor Nurul Islam, Zafrullah Chowdhury鈥檚 people-oriented policy, neutral mindset, wisdom and foresight acted as one of the driving forces to formulate the policy, he added.
Former director of Biomedical Research Centre professor ABM Farooq said that after independence Bangladesh was dominated by multinational pharmaceutical companies. The price of medicine was beyond the purchasing power of common people. But due to the national drug policy, Bangladesh became self-sufficient in this industry.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies research director Kazi Iqbal said that the national drug policy led to the development of local manufacturing companies.
The seminar was conducted by Farida Akhtar, member of Gono Bishwabidyalay board of trustees and executive director of UBINIG. Zafrullah Chowdhury鈥檚 wife and women development expert Shireen Parveen Haque delivered the closing speech.
Trustees of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, vice-chancellor of Gono Bishwabidyalay, treasurer, dean and registrar along with pharmacists, doctors and teacher-students were present in the seminar.
