Dhaka, Jan. 8 -- The interim government on Thursday decided to fix the prices of 295 essential medicines in Bangladesh, making it mandatory for all pharmaceutical companies to sell these drugs at government-determined rates.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Advisers, aimed at ensuring affordable access to medicines for the majority of the population.

"Prices of 295 essential medicines will be fixed by the government, and all companies will have to comply with these rates. The decision will be implemented very soon," said Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy after the meeting.

He s...