Pharma sector assured of help

Health Minister AFM Ruhul Haque said yesterday the government will provide every possible policy support to the evolving pharmaceutical sector.

The minister said this while talking to the leaders of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) at the ministry.

The BAPI leaders discussed with the minister about establishing an international standard drug testing laboratory and a pharmaceutical ingredients' industrial park.

They also urged the minister to increase manpower of Drug Administration Department (DAD) and upgrade it to a directorate.

They said the Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals are entering the restricted European market and for that the quality control of the medicines should meet international standards.

The minister told them that the government is considering establishing a global standard drug testing laboratory and reconstituting the DAD.

Secretary to the ministry Sheikh Altaf Ali, Director General of DAD Brig Gen Md Ismail Hossain, BAPI President Salman F Rahman, Senior Vice President Momenul Haque, and Vice President Tarikul Islam were present at the meeting.