PRICES of various brands of the same medicine vary. They vary depending on on the manufacturers. And, this suggests the absence of proper oversight on drug pricing. This remains a concern as the Directorate General of Drug Administration has only 117 essential drugs on its platter to set the maximum prices for. An earlier estimate shows that Bangladesh manufactures more than 5,300 registered brands of 450 generic drugs, resulting in about 8,300 forms of various dosages and strengths. Given the number of products sold and in use, a list of 117 drugs that are under the pricing purview is insignificant. And, what is worrying about the price variation is that the prices vary starkly. The proposition is worrying. Because, it suggests that either the quality of the components in the drugs are compromised or of low quality or some manufacturers levy high prices on some medicines to make windfall profits. If the quality is compromised, it questions the quality oversight issues of the authorities. And, if the manufacturers set prices for the drug products at their will, it suggests a free reign, which is unacceptable. Overall, all the propositions together suggests a glaring regulatory failure.
A statin medication used to prevent cardiovascular diseases manufactured by a company sells for Tk 20 apiece whilst the same drug manufactured by another company sells for half the price, as 抖阴精品 reported on March 20. Prices of a medicine prescribed for diabetes sells for Tk 6, Tk 4, Tk 3 and Tk 2.5 depending on the manufacturers. A painkiller manufactured by company sells for Tk 16 whilst the drug manufactured by another company sells for Tk 10. Whilst the quality of drugs should, as a health economics teacher in the University of Dhaka says, never be compromised, a huge gap between prices for drug products is a regulatory failure, which is unacceptable. The general secretary of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, however, seeks to say that pricing is influenced by multiple factors despite the use of the same raw materials and the association鈥檚 president seeks to say that the factors could be quality, investment and research. A director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration says that drug prices depend on individual company policies. Manufacturers proposes prices based on the product cost and the drug administration approves them, allowing a 15 per cent profit margin on the production cost.
Experts, therefore, says that the government should strictly regulate drug pricing under a framework that covers all medicines, if required, by setting up a drug pricing authority as wide price difference of drugs only affect consumers and raise concern about the affordability and quality of the health sector.
