Staff Reporter :
Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) found that 93 percent of pharmacies in the capital city are selling date-expired medicines creating a severe health risks.
“We have found that about 93 percent of pharmacies in the capital are selling date- expired medicines during our market monitoring in last six months. I guided the monitoring teams. Other officials were in other monitoring teams. We have got such a depiction in last six months. It is really alarming. It created huge health risks among the people,” said Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Deputy Director of the Directorate.
“Three of our teams monitored markets everyday in last six months. We found date-expired medicines to sell in pharmacies without any hesitations. It is extremely alarming,” Monjur Mohammad said. The deputy director said that the teams conducted drives in Dhanmondi, Banani, Shahjahanpur, Shyamoli, Mugda and other areas in the city. They fined Tk 1,00, 000 against two medicine shops in Shahjahanpur and Dhanmondi on March 5.
The teams also closed a pharmacy in Khilkhet in the city for the same reason on March12. It also fined many more pharmacies for the same reason in the city.
The official said that they can punish those pharmacies breaching the rules and selling date expired medicines.
“We cannot give jail but can fine and recommend to the ministry to close those pharmacies involved in selling of date-expired medinices,” he said.
The deputy director said the directorate has planned to work with pharmacy owners to resolve the problem.
“We have decided to create consciousness among the pharmacy owners about the ultimate danger of such acts. We are hopefull that it will work and they must refrain from selling date expired medicines,” the Deputy Director said.
He said the pharmacy owners agreed to help us in different areas. The officials of the directorate have been directed to work with the business forums directly.
The DNCRP has no power to close any pharmacy directly, but can recommend to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to shut those shops.
On the other hand, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) rejected the DNCRP’s claim.
Director General of DGDA, Major Mustafizur Rahman told journalists that DNCRP’s claims are beyond fact.
“There is a problem in the pharmacies that most of them have not appointed pharmacists. But about the DNCRP’s allegation about finding date expired medicines in around 93 percents of pharmacies are not realistic. It may be not more than two to three percent,” the DG said.
“We are also monitoring markets regularly. We have ensured that the drug companies to replace the date expired medicines to the pharmacies,” the DG said.
