Health ministry directs doctors to mention reason for prescribing antibiotics
The Indian government has recently issued a directive to doctors, requiring them to "mandatorily mention the indication/reason/justification while prescribing antibiotics." This move aims to tackle the over-prescription of antibiotics and promote their judicious use. Dr. Atul Goel, the Director General of Health Services, has urged all doctors in medical colleges to adhere to this directive, stressing the importance of responsible antibiotic use for future generations of doctors who will face this crisis more severely.
Pharmacists reminded to sell antibiotics only on valid prescriptions
Dr. Goel has also reminded pharmacists to "implement Schedule H and H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and sell antibiotics only on valid prescriptions." According to a letter obtained by CNBC-TV18, doctors must specify the exact reason for prescribing antimicrobials on their prescriptions. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are major factors contributing to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, with limited new antibiotics in development.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global public health threat
The government highlights that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a significant global public health threat. The letter states that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019, while 4.95 million deaths were associated with drug-resistant infections. AMR jeopardizes many advancements in modern medicine, resulting in prolonged illness, increased risk of death, extended periods of infectivity, and exorbitant costs of second-line drugs. This could lead to the inability to treat diseases in numerous individuals.
AMR can cause 700,000 deaths annually around the world
According to a report by The Times of India, experts say that easy access to and misuse of antibiotics "is the culprit" in cases where "mild viral infections like colds and fevers seem to drag on." They believe that AMR can alone cause 700,000 people around the globe to succumb to death annually. "India could alone see two million lives lost by 2050, more than cancer and road accidents combined," stated the report.
'Antibiotics are useless against viruses, yet people rely on them'
Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, making them useless in cases of viruses. Yet, people rely on them at the first sign of cough or sniffle. Owing to the consumption, it impairs the body's natural defenses against any possible infection in addition to fostering resistance to actual bacterial threats. Experts say that several people buy over-the-counter antibiotics and suffer in silence due to lack of knowledge.
