The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) does not see ‘any reason to panic’ at the news of drugs past their expiration dates being available in the market.
"Drugs can expire in the stores and companies collect and destroy them following ‘standard operating procedure’ of the World Health Organization," BAPI president Nazmul Hasan said in a briefing at his residence in Dhaka on Friday, reports bdnews24.com.
“This is the tradition. So we think there is no need to worry about it,” Nazmul said, “But we cannot say anything about the imported drugs.”
BAPI president's statement came in the wake of a recent comment by an official at the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.
“We (industries) always replenish those with fresh batches or refund the money. So, there is no reason to sell those drugs to the public,” the BAPI president said.
“There is no reason to be worried,” he added.
Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies produce most of drugs the country needs. They also export to many countries. There are 230 licensed companies in Bangladesh.
Recently, Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, a deputy director at Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said their investigations carried over six months found expired medication in 93 per cent of drug stores.
He, however, said not all the medicines were out of date in those stores.
