Price spiral of medicine negates rights to health

They said the price of raw materials has decreased worldwide, but at least 25 companies in the country hiked the medicine prices of their 35 items recently by 40 to 60 percent without any prior declaration.

This is a kind of looting people's money, they added.

The human chain was organised by Nagorik Sanghoti, Doctors for Health and Environment and Chikitsak Sangsad at Shahbagh in the city.

Taking advantage of the price hike of medicine, the unscrupulous businessmen have flooded the markets with spurious and low standard medicines which is a matter of concern for public health, the speakers said.

The government's major responsibility is to see the interest of the people, not the interest of the medicine companies, they asserted.

The speakers demanded closure of the diagnostic centres that misdiagnose the patients.

They also urged the government to check medicine price hike, stop sale of counterfeit and low standard medicines, and make essential medicines available in public hospitals.

Doctors for Health and Environment President Doctor Rashid-e-Mahbubey, General Secretary Dr Shakil Akhter, Nagorik Sanghoti President Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman, General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif, and Chikitsak Sangsad President Dr Moshtak Hossain spoke at the human chain.