Dhaka, Jan. 8 -- The Bangladesh government has expanded its list of essential medicines to 295 by adding 135 more drugs and has decided to fix their selling prices, aiming to improve access to treatment and medicines for the public.

The decision came at a meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday, said Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant on health affairs to the chief advisor, according to bdnews24.com.

He said traders would be required to sell these medicines at prices set by the government in the interest of public healthcare and access to medicines. However, they will get time for gradual implementation.

On Thursday afternoon, Sayedur said an essential medicines list was prepared. Requests were made at the Advisory Council meetin...