KARACHI:
Taking unprescribed medicines is quite common in Pakistan. A report suggests that the occurrence of self-medication in our country is 53% to 61.3%, making it a serious health hazard. Some of the reasons behind people resorting to self-medication include the high cost of consultation, busy life, lack of awareness, easy access, and lack of transportation facilities to healthcare centres for rural people. Even consuming a single Panadol tablet or any other ‘instant’ pain reliever is not free from side-effects. Self-medication could suppress the underlying conditions, thus delaying the diagnosis or causing a dangerous drug interaction and additional complications. The government must take steps to lower the cost of consultation, conduct programmes to raise awareness, prohibit pharmacies from supplying medicine without a prescription, and build more hospitals in rural areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2022.
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