4 Ctg pharmacies fined Tk80,000 for hoarding saline amid demand surge

The Chattogram district administration has fined four pharmacies, located near the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Tk80,000 for hoarding dextrose normal saline (DNS), used in dengue treatment.

The administration officials conducted a sting operation on Wednesday and found that some drugstores are hoarding salines and refusing to sell the product to ordinary consumers, said officials.

"Officials of the district administration, disguised as patients, went to buy DNS salines from the pharmacies but were turned away. Later, during a mobile court drive, a sufficient amount of salines was found available in all these stores," Executive Magistrate Prateek Dutta told The Business Standard.

In addition, unregistered drugs worth Tk2 lakh were seized during the drive.

The authorities fined Sahan Medico Tk20,000, Sabuj Pharmacy Tk10,000, Emon Medical Hall Tk20,000 and Popular Medicine Corner Tk30,000.

The demand for DNS saline has increased recently due to a surge in dengue infections in the port city.

On Thursday, many pharmacies in the Panchlaish, Chawkbazar and Kazir Dewri areas said that they had run out of saline stock. Pharmacies in other parts of the city also reported shortages of saline.

Meanwhile, banking on the crisis, many traders are allegedly selling DNC saline at extravagant prices. While the price of the saline is Tk90-95, many pharmacies are selling it for Tk150-200 by creating a syndicate.

Traders, however, pointed fingers at pharmaceutical companies for the crisis.

Riyad Hasan, a sales representative at Al-Madina Pharmacy in Mehdibagh, told TBS, "Almost all pharmaceutical companies, including Baximco, Biopharma, Popular, and Libra supply DNS saline. Normally, a pharmacy would require 10 to 12 units per day, but due to heightened demand, sales have surged to 30 or even 50 units. A saline crisis has emerged as drug companies have cut supply despite rising demand."