Despite consistent efforts of the government and national stakeholders, every year in Bangladesh over 5,000 mothers and thousands of children die. Most of these deaths are preventable and could be treated by increased access to quality services including existing medicines and other health commodities. The United Nation's Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children suggests that an important cause of these deaths is lack of access and appropriate use of 13 life-saving commodities. This document describes an effort by Population Council to assess the country's policies, guidelines, and availability for these 13 life-saving commodities as well as engaging with key stakeholders to implement the UN Commission's recommendations in conjunction with this assessment's findings. This assessment validated the availability of the 13 commodities in three districts at district, sub-district, and community levels, and within drug stores, in in 15 government facilities and 27 private drug stores in August and September 2013. Key stakeholders (including Ministry of Family Health and Welfare and government officials, members of professional associations, and non-governmental representatives) were consulted. A national workshop stimulated discussion, identified national priorities and information gaps, and identified areas requiring policy review. This stakeholder engagement helped identify opportunities for their organizations' contributions to implementing the UN Commission recommendations. FINDINGS Regulatory issues The assessment determined that Bangladesh has well-developed policies to regulate production, distribution, sale, and use of all drugs as well as ensuring they are of good quality, efficacious, and safe. It is also revealed that all drugs, medicines, and other mechanical substances in final dosage forms (those manufactured, imported, distributed, marketed, or consumed in the country) must be registered with the regulatory authoritythe Directorate General of Drug Administration. The the registration must specify dosage form and strength, according to the country's Drug Control Committee (a committee of the Directorate General of Drug Administration). The Directorate General of Drug Administration's capacity seems to be logistically limited and lacks skilled manpower, while other regulatory factors including pharmaceutical companies' individual operating procedures, quality control, and quality assurance programs complicate regulatory issues. Registration and commodity availability The assessment found that many policymakers and program managers are not aware of the UN Commission report nor its recommendations. Stakeholders who were aware were generally from international and UN organizations and involved in actual implementation of the Commission's recommendations. With the exception of the female condom, however, each of the 13 life-saving commodities is registered and available in Bangladesh. Not all of maternal and neonatal commodities are registered in the dosage forms recommended by the World He...
