Bangladesh’s cabinet decided on August 3 to cancel the interim government’s Essential Medicines List-2026 and Drug Pricing Method-2026, restoring the 1994 essential medicines list and its price-setting system. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The move has raised concern about treatment costs for patients and families, particularly as inflation pressures household budgets and many people require long-term medicines.

According to Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies research cited in the report, people pay about 79 percent of total health expenditure out of pocket. Public health experts warned that companies could seek higher medicine prices by citing raw-material, production, marketing and dollar-cost increases. The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries welcomed the decision, however, saying it does not expect medicine prices to rise.

The 1994 list contained 117 medicines, while the 2025 list expanded the number to 297. The government said the newer measures were cancelled because the National Drug Advisory Council had not been consulted as required under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023. It said a new essential medicines list will be prepared. Court petitions challenging the legality of the cancelled list and pricing method remain pending before the High Court.