Dbarta24 Report — The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has announced a major push to strengthen monitoring across the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, aiming to eliminate substandard and unnecessary drugs while reining in unauthorized pharmacies operating across Bangladesh.
Out of 322 registered allopathic pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country, only 258 are currently operational. Notably, roughly 30 top-tier companies strictly adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, producing the vast majority of high-quality medicines consumed domestically and exported abroad. However, concerns persist regarding smaller units failing to meet basic quality, efficacy, and safety benchmarks.
Speaking at an event hosted at the DGDA headquarters in the capital on Thursday to observe World Patient Safety Day, DGDA Director General (Additional Secretary) Md. Alamgir Hossain emphasized that regulatory oversight is being significantly intensified.
“Strict controls and surveillance are being increased for companies manufacturing substandard and unnecessary drugs,” said Director General Md. Alamgir Hossain. “To ensure quality, safety, and efficacy, rigorous testing is being conducted at every stage—from raw Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to finished products—including checks for chemical impurities and toxicity.”
This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme focused on “Safe Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases.” Organized by the DGDA’s Pharmacovigilance Division, the program featured a rally, discussion sessions, an open forum, and interactive digital quizzes.
Beyond manufacturing oversight, the regulatory body outlined immediate enforcement actions targeting retail distribution. Authorities declared a zero-tolerance policy against the sale of over-the-counter antibiotics without valid medical prescriptions—a critical measure to combat the growing global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Furthermore, drives against unlicensed and illegal pharmacies will be stepped up nationwide.
Illustrating the severity of recent enforcement actions, officials highlighted a recent raid on a pharmacy in Dhaka’s Bashundhara area, where expired vaccines were found stored in improper conditions. The establishment was fined 1 million BDT and shut down immediately.
Addressing systemic safety, Dr. Md. Akhter Hossain, Director of Pharmacovigilance at DGDA, stressed the importance of adverse drug reaction monitoring. He noted that prompt reporting of side effects allows regulators to identify potential risks quickly, ultimately protecting patients. He called for seamless coordination among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, academics, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and consumers to build a robust safety net.
By enforcing strict compliance from raw material imports to retail dispensing, health authorities aim to safeguard public health and ensure that every patient in Bangladesh receives safe, effective, and quality-assured medication.