Bitter Pills:Medicines & The Third World Poor | Page 280

1985. Besides its function in respect of drug control and administration, the National Drug Control
Administration Laboratory will devote itself to develop appropriate standards and specifications for
unani and ayurvedic drugs. It will also help develop national formulations for unani and ayurvedic drugs.
The fees for licensing, registration and testing of drugs which are ridiculously low at present shall
be enhanced. Licensing or registration fees for new products which are not included in the national
list of essential drugs shall be very high (not less than taka 5000/-). The renewable fees of licensing,
registration and testing shall be utilised for the expansion and development of drug administration
and drug testing laboratories. No manufacturer will be allowed to produce drugs without adequate
quality control facilities. However, the small national drug manufacturers may be allowed to establish
quality control laboratories on a collective basis.
3.4 Local Production
The existing capacities of local pharmaceutical industries especially those owned by Bangladeshi
nationals, shall be enhanced through liberal licensing for balancing and modernisation and by increasing
entitlement for the import of raw materials. Government facilities for the economic and efficient
production of essential drugs for primary health care, intravenous fluid and vaccines shall be expanded.
Multinational companies will not be allowed to manufacture simple products like common analgesics,
vitamins, antacids, etc. Such products will be exclusively manufactured by local firms. Local production
of basic Pharmaceuticals in bulk shall be promoted to attain self-reliance. To encourage such production,
special benefits and protections will be provided to private investors. The public industrial sector
shall also take appropriate measures for the local production of essential basic Pharmaceuticals in
bulk, including vital antibiotics.
3.5

Control of Prices

Government shall control the prices of finished drugs as well as those of pharmaceutical raw and
packaging materials and intermediates. Level prices will be fixed for the 45 essential drugs for primary
health care and their corresponding raw materials. It will be ensured that all raw and packaging materials
of acceptable quality are procured from international sources at competitive prices only. The retail
prices of finished drugs will be fixed on the basis of costing and reasonable profitability. Undue overhead
expenditure shall be prevented. A maximum of 100% mark up for fast moving items and 150% for
slow moving items over cost of raw materials shall be allowed.
In the case of injectable and sterile preparations, the mark-up may go up to 200%. No mark-up will
be allowed on the cost of packaging materials, but actual cost on them will be added.
The agency responsible for drug control and administration shall be responsible for the control of
pricing and their enforcement.
3.6 Distribution and Utilization
Retail sale of drugs and medicines shall be allowed only un