Dhaka: The government has announced plans to establish "government pharmacies" in all public hospitals nationwide, aiming to provide citizens with essential medicines at prices one-third of the current market rate. This initiative seeks to ease access to affordable healthcare across the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiative will make 250 commonly used medicines available at significantly reduced prices. Professor Dr. Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted that while government hospitals currently offer lab and primary healthcare services, pharmaceutical services have been lacking until now.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has specified that these government pharmacies will be located within the premises of every public hospital. The primary objective is to ensure that high-quality and standardized medicines are accessible to everyone at affordable prices, enhancing the public's access to essential medicines.
Dr. Rahman elaborated on the government's efforts to make healthcare more affordable, emphasizing that the reduced cost of medicines will make medical treatment more accessible. This aligns with the government's ongoing commitment to improving public health.
Highlighting the current challenges faced by many due to the high cost of medications, Dr. Rahman noted that government pharmacies could potentially revolutionize the healthcare sector by treating up to 85 percent of patients, thereby alleviating financial hardships for many.
However, he acknowledged that managing drug theft remains a significant challenge. To address this, a digital system will be implemented to ensure proper oversight of the pharmacies.
Furthermore, Dr. Rahman mentioned that the government's pharmaceutical company, EDCL, currently purchases medicines worth approximately TK 1,300 crore annually. Moving forward, the government intends to increase its budget for medicine procurement and enhance production capacity to ensure the timely availability of necessary medications.