Contraband and banned medicines in markets

SPURIOUS medicine is undoubtedly a threat to the public health and the government should come down mercilessly on the manufacturers of these drugs and people who are marketing these products. If this is the case in Dhaka markets, the situation outside Dhaka can better be imagined than described. Medicines of inferior quality, banned and expired drugs are being sold regularly across the country taking advantage of the ignorance of innocent patients. The result is too well known and needs no elaboration.
The authorities concerned are seen coming down hard on the traders of such drugs from time to time. These drives produce some results but only temporarily so. I think the government should adopt a tougher attitude towards the dishonest manufacturers and traders of all kinds of spurious medicines and formulate tougher laws if the existing ones are not adequate enough to stop this dangerous trade immediately and protect people from health hazards. The government should also launch awareness campaigns on the illegal and fake medicines being sold in markets so that everyone becomes aware of the fatal impact of spurious medicines on human health.
Also, if someone dies from such drugs the matter should be properly investigated into and the offenders must be given exemplary punishment. Pharmacy owners should also help the authorities to make sure that fake and spurious medicines are not sold from their stores. Let us be united to fight against manufacture and sale of contraband and spurious drugs.
Masud Rana
Dhanmondi, Dhaka