The National Health Alliance (NHA) has expressed deep concern and strong opposition to the government’s decision to repeal the Essential Drugs List-2026 and the Drug Price Determination Method-2026. In a joint statement on Saturday, NHA convener Professor Shadrul Alam and member secretary Md Abdul Ahad called for a patient-friendly national medicine policy.

The leaders said health is not a luxury but a constitutional and fundamental right for every citizen. They warned that weakening or abolishing price controls on life-saving medicines would hurt lower- and middle-income people, patients with chronic illnesses and older people most severely. Leaving market-based pricing for 180 essential life-saving medicines could lead to abnormal price increases, they said.

The NHA noted that people with diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease require regular medication, and higher prices could deny treatment to many patients. It urged the government to reconsider the decision, maintain effective controls, strengthen market monitoring and prevent unjustified price rises. The alliance warned it would announce a broader public movement involving doctors, health workers, patients and citizens if the decision is not withdrawn promptly.