The soaring cost of essential medicines in Bangladesh is leaving patients financially strained, with some drug prices more than doubling in the past 18 months. Consumers blame weak oversight for widespread irregularities in the pharmaceutical trade, accusing both companies and pharmacies of charging inflated rates.
Unlike food, which households can cut back on during price hikes, life-saving medicines must be taken in full courses to avoid worsening illness. Patients say this makes the unchecked price surge especially devastating.
In a landmark ruling, the High Court has directed the government to set official prices for essential life-saving drugs and publish them in the gazette after proper assessment. The verdict, delivered by Justices Md Rezaul Hasan and Biswajit Debnath, came after the final hearing of a writ petition filed seven years ago.
The court’s order aims to protect public health by curbing arbitrary price increases. It follows years of complaints that Bangladesh’s regulatory framework lags behind neighboring countries, where strict controls prevent such unchecked hikes.
With treatment costs climbing, the ruling is seen as a critical step toward ensuring that vital medicines remain accessible to all, regardless of income.
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