Bangladesh

With funding from UK’s Department for International Development, MSH worked with Bangladesh’s Directorate General for Drug Administration (DGDA) to develop and implement an accreditation model for both pharmacies and medicines shops, including mobilizing the support of stakeholders which led to the development of the country’s first national standards for retail drug outlets and an accreditation implementation strategy. The implementation strategy covers major issues such as dispenser orientation and training, economic incentives and microfinance for owners, information technology, inspection, and consumer advocacy and sensitization. Bangladesh is a challenging environment because of the sheer number of shops (approximately 200,000) and the strong influence of wide-ranging stakeholders, including those that represent the pharmaceutical industry and shop dispensers. With additional DFID funding, MSH is helping to accredit 5,000 drug shops by middle of 2020.