Study on Drug Selling Pattern in Bangladesh

Abstract

The concept of essential drugs was introduced in Bangladesh in the later part of ~ 970s, but government published the "Essential Drug list" or "EOL" in 1982 along with the National Drug Policy (NDP). World Health Organization (WHO) globally offers its help and cooperation to the concept of essential drugs to ensure the rational use of life saving drugs. The NDP stated that no medicine of any kind can be manufactured for sale or be imported, distributed or sold unless it is registered with the licensing authority and no person, being a retailer, is allowed to sell any drug without the personal supervision of a pharmacist registered in any Register of the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh. Despite substantial progress in drug manufacturing, irrational drug use, inappropriate prescribing, inadequate access to essential drugs, uncontrolled price and inappropriate selling of drugs are major problems affecting the total health care system badly of Bangladesh. This project is based on a thorough survey on drug selling pattem in Bangladesh and also based on reviewing related literatures, newspapers articles and online searches using Google. The obtained samples were categorized and reviewed carefully. After reviewing, the result is that, most of the medications are nonprescribed and sold inappropriately and polypharmacy is very common. Injections, Antibiotics, Suppositories and many other sophisticated drugs are often sold irrationally without standard guidelines. Virtually, all the drugs are available without prescriptions and self-medications are highly common. Access to essential medicines is Significantly less than that mentioned in the official documents. Price of essential medicines is not consistent and the drugs regulating authority does not have any control over pricing of drugs. Counterfeit medicines have deluged Bangladesh market with an estimated worth of US$100- US$150. Smaller drug manufacturers are engaged in the production substandard or fake drugs. The drug controlling authority should be more vigilant to ensure appropriate use and availability of medicines. Advanced studies are required to assess drug use pattems in the country to find out the picture of Drug Selling Pattem in Bangladesh. This survey programme was conducted in three areas namely Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Sherpur.