Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Emine Alp Meşe and the accompanying delegation attended the Bangladesh-Turkey Health Business Forum organized in Dhaka on 4-9 April.
The Turkish delegation went to Bangladesh to participate in the Forum and discuss the areas of cooperation between the two countries in the field of health. In addition to the 10-person delegation from the Ministry, 19 representatives from 13 Turkish firms and a representative from the Pharmaceutical Industry Employers Syndicate took part in the forum. On the occasion of the forum, the parties discussed strategic cooperation areas such as increasing commercial and economic market share in the field of medicines and medical devices, pharmaceutical biotechnology, biosimilar medicines, pharmaceutical raw materials and vaccine production.
Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca had previously stated that officials from the Ministry of Health went to Cuba and South Korea for examinations about vaccines production and technology transfer. Within the framework of “localization of all vaccines within 4 years” as included in the primary strategic goals of the Ministry, the officials made the similar examinations in Bangladesh.
The Turkish delegation visited the leading vaccine production facilities of Bangladesh. Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Emine Alp Meşe had a bilateral meeting with Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahed Melek, and they discussed joint vaccine and insulin production as well as the relevant R&D activities. Furthermore, they exchanged opinions on medicines, medical devices, supplies, health tourism, health training and emergency health services. On the last day of the visit, Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Medicines and Medical Devices was signed by and between Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Institution and Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh.
Local pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh had a market share of 25 percent in 1981. This has increased to 97 percent, making Bangladesh self-sufficient in the field of medicines and pharmaceuticals. Having a pharmaceutical market of $ 2,5 billion, Bangladesh is exporting medicines and vaccines to 151 countries.
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