HC orders to stop price hikes of medicines

The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to implement necessary measures to stop arbitrary increases in medicine prices.

The Director of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has been asked to implement the order.

A High Court bench of Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah held a hearing and passed the order on Monday, following a writ petition filed by the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB).

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua heard on behalf of the writ in the court, while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy appeared on behalf of the state.

According to the report, in two months, various companies in the country have rampantly increased the prices of their manufactured drugs. Prices of at least 50 types of medicines have been hiked from 20 to a maximum of 140 percent. In the first week of this March, the prices of several medicines have also been increased. Antibiotic tablets, insulin and injections for diabetic patients have been increased the most. A review of the production cost increases and sales revenue accounts of various companies shows that the rate of price increase is unusual. Companies are blaming the devaluation of the rupee against the dollar and the rise in the cost of raw materials in the international market as the reason for this unusual price hike.

The Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) filed a writ petition in the High Court, incorporating a media report titled 'Drug prices increased by 7 to 140 percent in two weeks.'