Dhaka, Dec. 20 -- Rising drug prices amid the uncontrolled syndicates are crippling Bangladesh's healthcare sector, forcing countless patients to forgo treatment and pushing families into poverty.

Over 116,000 people die from cancer annually in Bangladesh, with most succumbing due to lack of regular basic treatment and abandoning it midway, according to research.

While local firms now meet 95per cent of cancer drug demand up from near-total import reliance 15 years ago, prices remain exorbitantly high despite government tax exemptions on production and raw materials. Pegfilgrastim, vital for cancer supportive care, sells for Tk10,000-20,000 per dose locally, compared to Tk5,000-9,000 internationally, just over Tk1,500-2,000 in different...