A study by Bangladesh LDC Graduation Watch says if the country's pharmaceutical industry is negatively impacted by LDC graduation, it will become more challenging for marginalised communities to have access to treatment and medicine.
The research report was presented at a discussion organised at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
Firoz Ahmed, a member of the Constitution Reform Committee and Gana Sanghati Andolan, Pavel Partha, Director of BARSIC, Mohan Rabidas, Tea Workers' Representative, Sultana Begum of Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation, and Salahuddin Ahmad Bablu, Director of Karmasangstan Bank, shared opinion on the report.
Barkat Ullah Maruf of NagorikUddyog presented the research findings. Zakir Hossain, CEO of Nagorik Uddyog moderated the meeting, while Aminur Rasul, Coordinator of People's Health Movement, presented the opening remarks.
The meeting observed a minute silence on the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away last morning.
The Bangladesh LDC Graduation Watch conducted the study on 100 low-income people from the tea workers of Srimangal and Dalit community in Dhaka, who have been suffering from various chronic diseases for the past 5 years.
The study shows that these low-income people spend an average of 33 percent of their monthly income on purchasing medicines. Some families spend 135 percent of their income on cancer treatment for a family member.
The study also shows that 84 percent of women and 53 percent of men have already stopped treatment or reduced their dosage in the past due to increases in medicine prices.
Over 23percent of women and 29 percent of men will not be able to afford treatment if medicine price increases by 20-30 percent in future. 61 percent of women and 59 percent of men will take loans to continue treatment if medicine price increases.
At exchange of views Firoz Ahmed of Gana Sanghati Andolon said, although medical treatment is a fundamental right of citizens it is not enforceable by courts.
The responsibility for treatment of citizens has shifted from the state to private sector. Even medical and health research universities have shifted responsibility into corporate hands. Firoz Ahmed said Bangladesh must ensure medical treatment for citizens before LDC graduation.
Pavel Partha of BARCIK, said Bangladesh will be affected in many ways as a result of 23 agreements of the World Trade Organisation signed by Bangladesh after graduation.
However, the damage that will be caused only by Article 27, Sub-Section 3B of the Intellectual Property Act (TRIPS Agreement) will be immeasurable. Then the result of the 23 agreements is beyond imagination.
Partha said we must establish a national biodiversity register before graduation and ensure people's access to it.
Tea workers' representative Mohan Ravidas said, tea workers are suffering from various diseases due to the use of toxic chemicals in tea gardens, and are becoming deaf from working 8-10 hours in loud noise and the cost of treatment for these is more than the wages of tea workers.
Green Bangla Garment Workers Federation President Sultana Begum said, garment workers lose their ability to work after working for a maximum of 12 years. No one has a headache about the health of garment workers. On top of this, if the price of medicines increases after LDC Graduation where will our garment workers go?
