Govt owned EDCL to open largest South Asian pharma factory this month

Government owned drug producing organization, Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) will inaugurate a new factory in the last week of September.

The largest ever pharmaceutical factory of South Asia has been constructed in Tungipara of Gopalganj district, the birthplace of the Father of the Nation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the factory.

Of the four production units in the factory, the penicillin unit will start experimental operations from this month. From December this year, the factory will start operations in full swing.

This if the third production plant of EDCL, which started construction in 2015.

Regarding this, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim told reporters that PM Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the factory any day this month.

The factory, in full operations, will be able to produce 12 types of penicillin based medicine.

The minister said that this is one of the largest government owned pharmaceutical factories in South Asia and it cost Tk.700 crore from the government exchequer.

Project managers said birth control injections and pills, IV fluid, penicillin and iron tablets can be produced in massive quantities in the factory.