Over 1.50 lakh unregistered medicine shops are running businesses across the country, many of them engaged in malpractice by producing, storing, and selling counterfeit or adulterated medicines.
On condition of anonymity, an official of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) revealed that there are about 1.5 lakh unregistered drug stores in the country.
He also noted that there are allegations against these shops that sell substandard drugs. These shops spread all over the country including the capital, districts, upazilas, and even up to the union level.
According to the DGDA, there are currently 151,000 registered drug stores across the country. Of these, 32,535 new registrations were received in the last two years, during which time the department approved 436 more model pharmacies.
However, they do not have an accurate figure of how many drug stores there are at present without registration.
Mentioning a strong stance against unregistered drug stores, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Zahid Maleque told media, "I have already directed the Drug Administration to bring all drug stores in the country under discipline." “Shops whose licenses have not been renewed will be given a deadline.
Those who are running without a license but the quality of the shops is good will be brought under their license. And the decision will be made to shut those whose condition is absolutely below standard,” he added.
Public health expert Russel Ahmed told The Bangladesh Post that, “During the Corona crisis, the demand for various types of health care equipment and various medicines increased several times and the business of these shops also flourished.”
However, due to lack of supervision, counterfeit, adulterated, dishonest, expired drugs and healthcare equipment are being sold in these shops. Unregistered shops are getting a scope to do business due to the weakness of the regulatory body, the over-business attitude of the pharmaceutical companies, and the lack of public awareness, he added.
It’s a big challenge for the government; bringing discipline in our country is a tough task. Besides, consumer, health, and business simultaneously are connected in this cycle that must be considered, he later added.
According to the DGDA, at the end of the second week of November, drug superintendents, civil surgeons, upazila health and family welfare officers, and health workers working at the union level have been asked to provide information on drug stores in their respective areas.
They have been also asked to provide information on how many have licenses and how many operating without any license. It is also learned that process has already started in this regard.