Hundreds of small and medium sized drug stores have sprung up like fungus without any trade licenses in front of alleys and houses in different markets of Kishoreganj district. Many people are sitting in the business of selling drugs with only trade license without paying attention to the regulations of drug administration.
These pharmacies are known to be selling high quality antibiotics, banned, counterfeit, expired and substandard drugs without doctor's prescription. There is no trained pharmacist so the risk to patients is increasing. The patients and their relatives are suffering financially, physically and mentally.
According to sources, the number of registered pharmacies in Kishoreganj district is 2,600. But pharmacists and drug unlicensed pharmacies have sprung up in different places in 8 municipalities and 13 upazilas of the district. Ordinary people are constantly being mistreated there.
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Children, the elderly, young people and pregnant women in remote areas do not go to the registered physicians especially due to poor communication system of the unions and extra visits. The trade of substandard drugs is expanding day by day. Ordinary people are facing health risk. Conscious people want regular mobile court campaigns to stop the sale of drugs.
According to the Drug Control Ordinance, 1982, entitled recruitment of pharmacists, states that no retailer may sell any drug without the supervision of a registered pharmacist of any register of the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council. But in reality the opposite is seen. It is known that there are A, B, C category pharmacists in the country.
Holders of Honors degrees in Pharmacy from different universities are in the 'A' category. Holders of four year diploma courses are in ‘B’ category. The three-month course holders are ‘C’ category pharmacists. It can be noticed that 99 percent of the C category pharmacists in the district. Those whose minimum educational qualification is secondary pass.
President of the District Pharmaceutical Traders' Association MA Hanif said, the C-category pharmacist course has been running since 2007. The list of unlicensed shops has been submitted to the Drug Administration. We are encouraging people to start pharmacy business with drug license.
District Drug Superintendent Tahmid Jamil said, "I have been conducting regular mobile court to find out whether pharmacies are doing business with drug license or not."
