The interim government of Bangladesh has added 135 new medicines to the country's list of essential drugs, bringing the total number to 295. The government has also decided to set fixed prices for the sale of these essential medicines. The decision was made during a meeting of the advisory council held on Thursday.

At a press conference later in the day at the Foreign Service Academy, the chief adviser’s special assistant on health affairs, Md. Sayedur Rahman, announced the decision. He stated that sellers must sell the essential medicines at the government-fixed prices to ensure public access to treatment and medicines. However, he mentioned that sellers would be given some time to comply with the new pricing regulations.

The move aims to make essential medicines more affordable and accessible to the public, aligning with the government’s broader health policy objectives.