Private sector grabbing as govt efforts fizzle out

Private pharmaceutical companies have slowly grabbed the market of birth control products in Bangladesh as the government’s family planning programmes lose edge.

“Once the government health workers used to hunt married women to supply contraceptives free of cost, but now we look for them instead,” said Tania Akter, a housewife from Lalbagh area.

She said she had to purchase birth control items, having failed to obtain them from government sources. “It is not affordable for me,” she noted.

Mizanur Rahman, head of hygiene products at SMC, claimed that they hold 62 per cent of the total contraceptive market, supplying 20 branded anti-conception products.

“Annually, we sell mostly pills, condoms and injections worth Tk 250 crore, which is increasing with 4 per cent average yearly growth,” he said.

The 2018 Demographic and Health Survey showed the private companies had 49 per cent stake in the contraceptives market while the government held 44 per cent. The government and NGOs provide most of the contraceptives free of cost.

In 2007, the private sector occupied 45 per cent of the market.

SMC Enterprise, Renata, Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Popular Pharmaceuticals, Square Pharmaceuticals, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Ziska Pharmaceuticals, and PRAN-RFL are the key players in the domestic market.

Farzana Akter Popy, deputy manager at Nuvista Pharma Ltd, a subsidiary of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, said their annual pill sales volume was Tk 30 crore and it was growing 10 per cent annually.

According to BDHS data, 43.5 per cent contraceptive pill users use SMC products including Femicon, Minicon, Femipill, Nordette-28, Noret-28. But 51.6 per cent people are using ‘Shukhi’, the government-supplied brand, while 4.9 per cent go for private brands like Ovostat, Marvelon, Lynes, Bredicon, Desolon and Rosen.

What about local manufactures?

Local manufacturers are meeting the total demand for pills. The country exported chemical contraceptives to Nepal worth $1,63,026 in fiscal year 2020-21, Export Promotion Bureau data show.

Bangladesh is highly dependent on global market for condoms imported mainly from Malaysia, China, Philippines, Thailand and the UK.

The government is supplying contraceptive products to 25 million people free of cost. All contraceptive items, excluding implants, are produced in the country.

Condoms overtaking pills

In Bangladesh, there are eight methods of contraceptives – six for women and two for men.

Pills and condoms are two of the most popular contraceptive items. But manufacturers say condoms are becoming more popular among people nowadays.

More couple are going for condoms as women complain of various physical issues after taking pills.

SMC’s Mizanur Rahman said condom sale was  increasing 5 per cent year-on-year.

Bangladesh initially gained long-term success in controlling population by providing free birth control products but the efforts have declined in the last one decade.

The Directorate General of Family Planning said contraceptive use was 63.1 per cent in FY20 and 63.4 per cent in FY21.

“A couple of years ago, public health representative used to distribute preventive items among people in front of my shop, but it has stopped now,” said Mohammad Eyasin, owner of Bhai Bhai Pharmacy at Chawk Bazar.

“People are now buying contraceptive items from us.”

Challenges remain

The BDHS data suggests that 79.1 per cent married women do not intend to use anti-conception stuff for fertility-related reasons and want as many children as possible while 8.9 per cent are found reluctant to use protection due to reasons ranging from husband/partner opposition to religious prohibition.

Mohammad Mainul Islam, professor and former chairman, Department of Population Sciences at Dhaka University, said Bangladesh reaped the benefit of free contraceptive distribution till 2011, but after the period, the activity has ebbed.

“The government supply to people’s doorsteps has fallen drastically which needs to be addressed with earnestness,” he suggested. “Usually, men force their female partners to use contraceptives. Men should also use them willingly.”