Low and middle income group of people of the city are hit hard by the recent increase of price of essential life saving drugs during the recent months. As a result, public health condition is under threat as most of the patients are not being able to purchase drugs as required and some of are purchasing less drugs than the quantity they actually required.
According to market sources, the price of drugs of all brands belonged to every company for curing or controlling Coronavirus, High Blood Pressure, Gastric, Fever, Cold, Cough, Diabetes, Pneumonia and Diarrhoea have been increased during the recent months.
Officials and Medical Representatives of the drug companies informed, the price hike of the drugs was linked to the increase of exchange rate of Dollar, increase of power tariff, increase of price of raw materials, hike in carrying cost and the increase of salary of officials and staff of the companies.
Sources further informed, there are over 1800 generic drugs and 21,000 branded-drugs in the country. Out of these drugs, price of 70 generic drugs have been increased which they termed negligible in compared to the total produce.
The sources further informed prices of some essential drugs like Antibiotics and paracetamol have not been increased. The sources further mentioned, nearly 95 percent of total required drugs are produced in the country.
The leaders of Bangladesh Oushodh Shilpa Samity, Rajshahi unit informed, it was for the existence of the drug industries, the price of essential drugs has been increased. They further said, they have clarified the causes of increase of prices of some drugs in various newspapers recently.
They further informed, there was no other ways but to increase price of some essential drugs. The increase of the price was reasonable and for the survival of the drug industries, they mentioned.
The prices of some drugs which were increased among others recently in the city drug markets have been identified as Remedesivir for the treatment of Coronvirus, Apetiz, Antacid tablet and Syrup, Omeprazole, Isomiprazole, Magnesium Hydrochloride, Foilic Acid, Antihistamin Syrup, Fixocard, Olmeson, Amodcal, Cough syrup and drops, ventolin, Vitamin D, all types of vitamin tablets and syrup, anti fungal creams, Clofenac, Glycozide and Neobacrin. The price of varities Oxymeters for checking Oxygen level of any person suffering from Coronavirus has also been abnormally increased.
The prices of these drugs were increased from taka 10 to taka 50 per ten strip or a bottle.
An official working with Renata Company in Rajshahi informed, the salary of researchers, experts, officials and employees working at the drug companies have been increased several times during the last 20 years. An employee who used to get a salary of Tk 12,000 during the end of 2010 is now getting over Tk. 25,000 per month. Moreover, the expertises in the drug companies are required to pay a high competitive salary. By this time the price of electricity, gas, packaging and carrying costs have also been increased. He further informed, most of the renowned drug companies only earn 5 to 10 percent profit by selling their products.
Abdur Rouf of Sagarpara area of the city informed, he used to purchase drugs worth Tk 2,500 per month for his family members but with the increase of price of all essential drugs recently, it is hard for him to maintain his family and keeping his family members free from of chronic diseases they suffer.
Manik, a rickshaw puller who came to Bindur more area to purchase drug for Ulcer and gastric at a drug store informed, he and his family members used to require drugs worth Tk 50 daily but due to increase of price of drugs recently, he was purchasing less drugs. As a result, they could not get rid of their sufferings from the diseases even after taking medicine.
