BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the pharmaceutical industry is at risk as the recently formed the Drug Control Committee does not have any representation from Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries.
The Drug Control Committee (DCC), task force on listing essential drugs and ensuring their availability, and technical sub-committee of the DCC have no representation from the association, he said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
In order to develop the pharmaceutical sector, the industry needs transparency, participatory decision-making, and the inclusion of experts, he says.
Exclusion of stakeholders is not supportable, he says, adding, "With the upcoming LDC graduation in mind, it is crucial [for us] to adopt appropriate measures to protect this sector."
The LDC graduation is likely to affect the pharmaceutical sector significantly.
"We are also aware that no new drugs have been registered in the past two years, and no price adjustments have been made for a long time."
Bangladesh exports drugs to over 160 countries and meets domestic demand, the release says.
Additionally, the industry is advancing towards the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry is no longer just a manufacturing sector, it has become a strategic national asset, says the press release.
BNP hopes that the government will take steps to protect the stability and reputation of the pharmaceutical industry by holding discussions with sector stakeholders and adopting industry-friendly policies.
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