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detailed and publicly available information
about this impact. There is a need to provide
evidence about the success of pricing control
in ensuring essential drugs affordability and
whether or not it has made manufacturers concentrate
on non-essential drugs.
The Directorate of Drug Administration,
the national drug regulatory authority, needs
to be strengthened and provided with the necessary
financial and human resources. Its responsibly
needs to be clarified especially in regulating
vaccines and the rapidly commercialised herbal
medicine
Vaccines are produced and imported
in Bangladesh under licence granted by the Directorate
of Drugs Administration, which is the legal
Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA), i.e. the National
Regulatory Authority (NRA) of drugs and medicine
in Bangladesh. It has full control on all aspects
of vaccines, like those of any drugs produced
and/or imported in the country.
Consequently, the DRA or NRA is the sole authority
responsible for controlling and monitoring production
and distribution of vaccines in the country
as for any drugs produced, imported, distributed
and used here. However, because of shortage
of trained and qualified personnel the effective
control of the vaccine related matters in the
country is not that strong. Thus, strengthening
of the Directorate of Drug Administration as
the Regulatory Authority for vaccine production
in the country needs to be addressed seriously.
Enough consultatory, logistic and financial
support for this purpose is thus a necessity.
More...
Polio
Eradication
Although the last case of polio in Bangladesh
occurred in August 2000, the risk of importation
remains high. Ongoing transmission of wild poliovirus
in the region suggests that certification cannot
occur at least until 2007. High OPV coverage
and certification-standard surveillance must
continue through certification. More...
Regulation
Quality of Vaccine
An assessment of the 6 functions of the National
Regulatory Authority (NRA, Drug Administration)
found deficiencies in each area in spite of
the fact that anti-rabies international vaccine
(ARV) and Tetanus toxoid (TT) are manufactured
by government institutions. Establishing a functional
NRA is a prerequisite for domestic vaccine production.
Immunization
(EPI)
Bangladesh has received US$ 3.7 million from
GAVI in support for Immunization Service Strengthening
and introduction of New and Underutilized Vaccines.
To invest these funds wisely and to achieve
the desired EPI objectives, the national EPI
programme will require extensive technical support
from WHO.
Blood
Safety and Clinical Technology
Safe Injections & Sharps Waste Disposal
and safe blood transfusions are essential to
prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases
such as HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, and malaria.
GOB is developing policies regarding safe injections
in 2003 that will need to be followed up.
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