Photo: Collected
Local pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to produce various low-cost and effective life-saving drugs allegedly for low profits – thereby putting people’s life at risk due to side effects of the new medicines combined with rising expenses of suffering patients.
This has also created trouble for the physicians as they cannot prescribe alternative new drugs without properly knowing their side effects and efficacy.
The pharmaceutical companies argue that there is less need of the old drugs although there is no evidence that they have become resistant in human body.These drugs are widely used in Europe and America, experts say.
The World Health Organization lists essential medicines to ensure access to medicines at fair prices. But the pharmaceutical companies of the country have moved away from that position.
In this case, the government's Drug Administration has the responsibility. The biggest stakeholders in medicine are patients and doctors. But the drug administration is taking decisions and implementing them only keeping in view the needs and demands of drug manufacturing companies without consulting with these two groups creating the anarchy.
Regarding the difference between a new and old drug, experts say that it usually takes 10 to 12 years to discover an effective drug. In this case, those who discover successful drugs usually have a monopoly on patents. But those who fall behind come to the market by adding additional ingredients to the medicine which in most of the cases may not be necessary despite higher efficacy. But companies are more interested in producing those drugs to make more profit by selling them at higher prices.
Professor Sayedur Rahman, Chairman of Pharmacology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told The Daily Messenger that companies are reluctant to produce these drugs despite having demand and efficacy of the first discovered drugs. Because the profit in the production of these drugs is less.
“Newer drugs contain additional ingredients, which are applicable to specific patients but may not be useful in many cases. Even the added benefits of many drugs are useless,” he said, adding: “However, patients have to buy them at a higher price. The regulatory body of the government should take responsibility. Companies should be forced to produce effective and necessary medicines.”
Doctors and pharmacists said that only a few companies manufactured the life-saving drug 'Ephedrine Hydrochloride'. Among them, Seema Pharma's Asmafen (15 ml gm/ 5 ml liter) syrup is Tk 28, Bangladesh Immunity Company's Ephedrine (15 ml gm/ 5 ml liter) syrup is Tk 30, Seema Pharma and GA Company's 30 mg tablets are priced at Tk 1 each while most commonly used Popular Pharma, Renata Pharma, Jason Pharma, Gonoshasthaya Pharma and Iscepta Pharma injections cost Tk 12 to 30 which have been disappeared from the market.
Ibuprofen, which is very effective in reducing pain, is manufactured by about 35 companies, including the leading ones in the country. But the drug is not available in the market. Among these, Acme Laboratories' 'Profen' is occasionally available. Ibuprofen tablets are priced at Tk 1 per piece and syrup Tk 30 per bottle.
Ornidazole, effective against bacterial infections, is produced by a handful of companies. The price of this drug is Tk 6 to Tk 7 per piece. Zenith Pharma, Unimed, Unihealth Pharma, Drug International, Opsonin Pharma, Alco Pharma, Square Pharma, Ultra Pharma and Beximco Pharma do not regularly market ornidazole.
"Griceofulvin", a very effective drug for allergic problems, is not available in the market as it is not manufactured by the best companies in the country. Even if some companies produce it, it is rarely available and inadequate. Ambee Pharma, Gonoshasthaya Pharma, GA Company, Albion Laboratories Ltd, Bristol Pharma, Seema Pharma, Modern Pharma, Zenith Pharma and Nipa Pharma whose tablets are Tk 5 to Tk 6 each is not available.
Ayub Hossain, Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration told TDM, "We have not received such complaints from consumers or doctors. We will take necessary action if we receive such complaint”.
However, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Shafiuzzaman said ruled out the allegation saying people did not know that Bangladesh produces the lowest price of medicine in the world. Napa tablets are still available in this country. Apart from that, nothing can be done without the approval of the medicine administration.
In this regard, Professor ABM Farooq, former director of the Pharmaceutical Technology Department of Dhaka University, said that the companies here are moving away from the producing effective drugs produced at the initial stage due to low profits. Although these drugs are still equally effective, the weakness of the regulatory authorities is responsible for the situation to a great extent. Because of the lack of proper manpower, they cannot understand the shrewdness of the pharmaceuticals, he added.
TDM/SD
