Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain informed parliament on Wednesday that the government has taken a series of measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines at public hospitals and prevent theft and misuse of government-provided drugs.
“To address the essential medicines crisis and the problem of theft of government medicines at government hospitals, the present government is seriously considering the current and future action plans to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines and protect government assets,” he said, while replying to a scripted question from NCP lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin (Narayanganj-4) in the House.
The Minister said the process of ensuring adequate medicine supplies continues through the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) and local procurement committees based on demand.
In case of drug shortage at any specific hospital, emergency arrangements are made to replenish stocks promptly, he said.
Noting that three steps taken to check thefts of government medicines, he said the government is introducing an electronic inventory management system to digitally monitor medicine stocks and distribution, enabling authorities to track the entry and exit of medicines more effectively.
He also said special barcodes and QR codes are being incorporated into medicine packaging to facilitate the identification of government medicines if they are sold illegally or diverted outside the public healthcare system.
Sakhawat Husain further informed the House that monitoring cells have been formed at hospitals, while regular audits are conducted to oversee the proper use and management of medicines.
Regarding accountability, the minister said strict instructions have been issued to form departmental investigation committees whenever specific allegations of medicine theft are received. “Appropriate administrative and legal actions are taken against those found responsible,”
He added hospitals have been directed to display visible notices informing patients and visitors that government medicines are distributed free of charge and are not for sale in a bid to raise public awareness in this regard.
No shortage of Anti-Rabies vaccines:
In reply to a supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Mohammad Zahirul Islam (Chattogram-16), the Health Minister assured parliament that there would be no shortage of Anti-Rabies vaccines anywhere in the country as the government has maintained stocks at multiple levels to ensure uninterrupted supply.
He said people exposed to rabies animal bites require a series of four vaccine doses over an 18-day period and the government has taken comprehensive measures to guarantee availability of the life-saving vaccines.
“We have already kept vaccine stocks at three tiers across the country. Adequate quantities are available at the upazila level, while anti-rabies immunoglobulin has been stocked at district hospitals,” he said.
Sakhawat Husain said if vaccine stocks run out in any upazila due to an unexpected surge in demand, supplies would immediately be collected from neighboring upazilas.
If necessary, district authorities would provide additional doses, and deputy commissioners have been instructed to procure vaccines on an emergency basis until central supplies arrive, he said.
“We have maintained reserves at four levels. I want to assure the honourable member that, by the grace of Almighty Allah, there will be no shortage of vaccines during the coming season despite any increase in demand,” he added.
Earlier, replying to a starred question from the same opposition lawmaker, the health minister said the government has already supplied 139,675 vials of anti-rabies vaccine nationwide.
He said the supplied quantity is equivalent to 558,700 doses of vaccine, calculated at four doses per vial.
The minister further said the supply of anti-rabies vaccines is continuing across the country to ensure treatment for dog-bite victims and prevent rabies-related deaths.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining an uninterrupted supply of the life-saving vaccine at public health facilities nationwide.
