Photo : Collected
The rampant and unregulated use of antibiotics is on the rise in this country. Antibiotics, initially hailed as a boon for human welfare, have unfortunately transformed into a curse as a consequence of their indiscriminate use. Common ailments like viral colds, coughs, and measles prompt people to self-administer antibiotics without seeking professional medical advice – thereby exacerbating the problem.
The repercussions of this indiscriminate antibiotic use are multifaceted and extend beyond individual health to societal and economic realms. The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in a significant decline in the efficacy of many drugs that were once potent in combating various infections.
Alarming statistics reveal that nearly 90 percent of the country’s first- and second-line antibiotics have become ineffective due to uncontrolled usage, marking a stark increase from the 71 percent reported just five years ago. This data, derived from the examination of 72,670 patients at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), serves as a poignant reminder of the dire consequences of antibiotic misuse.
Of particular concern is the diminishing effectiveness of the five essential medicines highlighted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as indicated by a surveillance study conducted by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) between 2017 and 2021. The relentless misuse of antibiotics designed to combat bacterial infections poses an escalating threat. According to the WHO, five million people succumb to death across the global annually due to drug-resistant bacteria, with 1.27 million fatalities attributed to this cause. The majority of these deaths transpire in middle-income countries.
The adverse impact extends beyond the realm of health, affecting the economy as well. The World Bank has expressed apprehension that if the imprudent use of antibiotics persists, an estimated 2.4 million people may slip back into poverty by 2030. Simultaneously, global growth could witness a substantial decline, ranging from 1 to 3.4 trillion dollars.
In our country, a profit-driven mentality often compromises proper patient care, with doctors succumbing to the overwhelming pressure of patient load. Moreover, the undue influence exerted by pharmaceutical companies on doctors worldwide encourages the prescription of unnecessary, harmful, and expensive drugs. Consequently, innocent patients bear the financial brunt directly or indirectly.
Previous attempts, such as marking antibiotic packaging with a distinctive red colour, have proven to be ineffective in curbing their arbitrary use. Consequently, antibiotics continue to be readily available in pharmacies across the country’s urban and rural areas. It is imperative to enforce strict measures to halt the sales of antibiotics without appropriate prescriptions – thereby safeguarding both individual and collective health.
Messenger/Fameema
