State Minister for Health Dr M A Muhit on Monday urged pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders to keep medicine prices within people’s purchasing power while ensuring the sustainable growth of the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
“Protecting the interests of the industry is important, but medicine prices should not be increased arbitrarily in a way that causes hardship for the public and the government,” he said.
He made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at a stakeholder consultation meeting titled “Strengthening Health Sector Capacity Through Private Sector Engagement” held at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.
The event was jointly organized by the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Bank.
Referring to the current administration’s recent assumption of office, Muhit said the government took charge only two and a half months ago following a prolonged political movement and mass uprising.
“Public expectations are very high. However, after taking office, we found the health sector in a deeply fragile condition,” he said.
Describing the healthcare system as being in a critical state, the minister said many hospitals had gone without basic maintenance for the past five to seven years.
“Some facilities have buildings but lack medical equipment, while others face acute shortages of essential medicines. We are operating under significant challenges,” he said, adding that the ongoing global economic crisis has further intensified pressure on the sector.
Emphasising the need for a balanced and sustainable drug pricing policy, Muhit said pharmaceutical companies, as commercial entities, should be allowed to earn reasonable profits.
“Just as it is unrealistic to expect medicine prices to remain unchanged for years amid rising costs across all sectors, we also cannot support arbitrary price hikes at any time,” he said.
“Our priority is to strike a balance that protects public interest while preventing undue hardship for the government,” he added.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring access to essential healthcare services and life-saving medicines.
“We understand the concerns and challenges of the pharmaceutical industry and are committed to addressing them promptly. Unless these issues are resolved collectively, both the industry and the country will ultimately suffer,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Saiful ATM Islam, representatives from the private healthcare sector, pharmaceutical industry leaders, and senior officials of the Ministry of Health.