For years, Bangladesh’s public hospitals have operated without graduate pharmacists—despite the country’s booming pharmaceutical industry. But that’s about to change.
The government has announced its decision to appoint graduate pharmacists in public hospitals for the first time, a move aimed at improving healthcare quality and patient safety.
“Currently, public hospitals lack pharmacists, but we have included them in our future plans. Their presence will significantly enhance the quality of health services,” said Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at a stakeholder meeting yesterday (2 May).
The meeting, held in Dhaka, brought together health officials, educators, and industry leaders, all pointing to the urgent need for pharmacists in hospitals. With more than 51,000 beds in 654 government hospitals operating without a single graduate pharmacist, the absence has long hindered safe medication practices.
Speakers warned of the risks posed by unregulated self-medication and the lack of trained personnel in medicine dispensing. “Patients often self-medicate without consulting doctors, which can be risky. Pharmacists can play a vital role in guiding proper medication use,” said Md Saidur Rahman, secretary of the Health Services Division.
Under the new initiative, graduate pharmacists will be appointed in 700 government-run pharmacies. The government is also being urged to create a career path for hospital pharmacists, with proposed designations ranging from clinical pharmacist to chief pharmacist.
“In modern healthcare systems, quality service cannot be achieved without hospital pharmacists,” said Professor Md Nasser Shahriar Zahedi, chairman of the Hospital Pharmacy Committee. “Their integration will greatly improve collaboration among doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.”
The move also reflects a push to align with global standards. While countries like Malaysia and the UK have far better pharmacist-to-population ratios, Bangladesh is only now beginning to catch up—starting with this long-overdue step.