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IT is necessary for the government to regulate drug prices. The companies, under the free market, may be allowed to go on setting drug prices but they should be clearly warned and obliged to do so -- reasonably and ethically -- consistent with actual production and other costs. The respective department of the government should have the powers to conduct proper investigations regularly to confirm that the prices set by the companies are reasonable. If not, then it should tell the companies to revise prices downward to reflect rationality in pricing.
Proper quality control of drugs manufactured by some local companies has become a concern. The relevant government departments should both extensively monitor the production processes of the local drug companies and strengthen their capacities for doing so. The quality control aspects of the local drug companies have become also important in the backdrop of these companies gradually finding an export market for their products. If for the reasons stated above that some companies acquire a bad name abroad. The same would be a damper for export growth in a prospective field. Thus, quality control of the local drug companies must be ensured to safeguard the interest of local consumers as well as to promote export.
Reaz Rahman
Eskaton, Dhaka
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