DGDA and PCB officials discussed the impact and sustainability issues of BHB achievements with MSH’s Jennifer Gardella as BHB is moving towards project close-out

Jennifer Gardella from Management Sciences for Health recently visited Bangladesh to provide in-country support to facilitate project closeouts and develop content on the impact of MSH’s contributions in Bangladesh’s health sector. She met Major General Mohammad Yousuf, the DG of DGDA, and separately M. Mosaddek Hossain, the Vice president, and Muhammad Mahbubul Haque, the Secretary of the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (PCB). Both meetings were held on 13 June 2024. During these meetings, both DGDA and PCB stakeholders acknowledged the achievements and impact of the different activities and tools developed by the BHB. The achievements include the standards of model medicine shops and model pharmacies; accreditation system of the retail medicine shops; training of the medicine dispensers on Good Pharmacy Practice; PCB automation system; Automated Drug Licensing and Renewal System; Pharmacy Management Software; etc. While they expressed their satisfaction with transition plans developed by BHB to sustain these activities, they categorically mentioned the importance of continuing external assistance to build on these achievements further. The meetings were very insightful, and Ms. Jennifer asserted that MSH would communicate DGDA’s and PCB’s expectations for sustainability in the appropriate global channels.