Unfortunately, almost all doctors in the country have resorted to prescribing antibiotics for every disease or allergy
KARACHI: According to a recent study, consumption of antibiotics in Pakistan rose up to 65% in a span of 15 years, from 2000 to 2015. While antibiotics are useful against some infections, an increase of 65% should send alarm bells ringing in the medical fraternity of the country as overconsumption of antibiotics does no one favours.
Unfortunately, almost all doctors in the country have resorted to prescribing antibiotics for every disease or allergy, even when it is absolutely unnecessary and even when they are aware of the fact that frequent and inappropriate consumption of antibiotics can in fact ‘cause bacteria or other microbes to change so antibiotics don’t work against them. This is called bacterial resistance or antibiotic resistance’.
Moreover, an increase in the prescription of the same antibiotics has resulted in many patients going to pharmacists and getting them without having to go visit a doctor because they know that the doctor would prescribe the same.
The medical fraternity in the country, such as the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, should look into the matter on a priority basis and tell doctors to avoid such blatant prescription of antibiotics.
Ramsha Jhangir
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2018.
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