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Move on bulk drugs import draws fire

Sayeda Akter
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HIGHLIGHTS
O Imports of medicines and bulk drugs that are produced locally breach the Drug Policy 1982.
O The number of pharmaceutical companies is 250
O Only 7 companies produce raw materials
O Local producers can supply raw materials for 100 tonnes of Paracetamol, 840 tonnes of Amoxicilin compacted and 60 tonnes of Amoxicilinmicronised.
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Pharmaceutical industry leaders, dismayed by the government s budgetary proposal to allow the imports of medicines and bulk drugs, commonly known as raw materials, have demanded its review to protect local makers.
They fear such imports will hurt the country's seven bulk drug makers, which produce and supply raw materials to government and local pharmaceutical formulation companies.
There are 250 local pharmaceutical companies that collect raw materials from both local and foreign sources, and then produce tablets, capsule and injection ampoules.
The industry leaders see the move, proposed in the new budget for fiscal year 2009-10, as a clear violation of the Drug Policy 1982.
The policy forbids any import of medicines and raw materials that can be made locally.
The items such as amphetamine sulphate, dexamphetamine sulphate, metamizol and methamphetamine, which were banned here in 1982 because those contain narcotic elements, are among the bulk drugs proposed to import.
Also, rofecisib, cisapride monohydrate and celecoxib, which were normally prescribed as painkiller, but cause high risks for heart diseases, have been proposed in the budget as importable items.
Imports of some other items like multivitamin with carbonyl iron pellets and multivitamin with ferrous sulphate pellet, which can be manufactured locally, have been allowed.
Besides, raw materials of most common drugs including Paracetamol, Dipyridamol, P-acetaminophenol, Amoxicilin compacted and Amoxicilin micronised, available in the local market, are also on the list of importable bulk drugs.
Presently, local producers can supply raw matenals for 100 tonnes of Paracetamol, 840 tonnes of Amoxicilin compacted and 60 tonnes of Amoxicilin micronised.
The industry insiders think such imports will force the bulk drug makers to suspend their production for at least the entire duration of the next financial year if the government bid comes into effect finally. They anticipate the government revenue income from these makers to reduce to $2.5 million by the end of the coming fiscal year.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, a pioneer in formulating the 1982 policy and trustee of Gonoshasthaya Public Charitable Trust, said the local bulk drug industry might fail to perform its best as a potential sector because of the government move.
"But, the drug policy helped the local manufacturers to grow faster, as it provided protection to the industry, now meets the almost cent percent domestic demand at a reasonable price," Chowdhury said.
In a span of 27 years, the pharmaceutical industry has grown from almost nothing to aTk 5,000 crore market per year.
Medicine is also an export item that earned around $25 million in July-February period of FY 2008-09. However, the country witnessed a 15 percent negative growth in the item's exports because of the global financial melt-down, according to Export Promotion Bureau data.
Negative growth in exports means when exports grow less than zero. AM Faruque, managing director of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, said the government should not allow imports of the raw materials available in the local market.
Meanwhile, Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque said: "We will not do anything contrary to the existing laws and policies.”
He also made an assurance that the government would take all measures to safeguard the local industry.
Industry people said the government should take necessary measures to encourage more local entrepreneurs to get involved in bulk drug production, which will ensure self-sufficiency in pharmaceuticals and reduce dependency on foreign drugs.
The industry is also facing difficulty with regard to pricing, for which lack of government monitoring is blamed. The price fixing causes price hike, the industry insiders say.
They said this practice is making the local pharmaceutical industry less competitive than the regional market, mainly India.
Increased drugs prices mainly affect the access of the lower and lower middle-income group to essential drugs.
sayeda@thedailystar.net