LAHORE – Medical experts have said that excessive of antibiotics and self-medication aggravated the disease and created resistance in the bacteria, which resulted in complicating the treatment. A seminar in this connection was held at the Institute of Public Health on Friday.
Punjab Health Director General Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudary, Dean IPH Prof Farkhunda Kokab, Dr Shahid Iqbal, Dr Abdul Rashid, Dr Darakshan Badar, WHO representative Dr Babar Alam and former Dean of IPH Dr MA Sufi said that there was need to create awareness among the masses as well as in the doctors’ community for a ‘rational use’ of antibiotics.
National tuberculoses (TB) Programme Manager Dr Darakshan Badar observed that the increase in TB cases in Punjab was because many patients had given up their eight months’ course of treatment. She said that incomplete treatment of TB not only enhanced the patient’s sufferings but also created problems for the doctors in the treatment of patients.
She advised TB patients to ensure regular use of medicines without any break to get rid of the disease. Dr Shahid Iqbal said that doctors were also responsible for unnecessary and excessive use of antibiotics beside quacks. He urged the doctors to not to prescribe antibiotics under the pressure of patients or any incentive given by the pharmaceutical companies.
He also advised the masses that they should avoid self-medication and should consult a qualified physician. He said that suitable medicines, right dose for a right period and quality of medicine was necessary for curing the disease. He disclosed that in Pakistan, there were 60 thousand registered medicines while in America only two thousand medicines were registered.
Prof Abdul Rasheed said that health education and awareness were equally important for the people and health experts. He proposed the formulation of a regulatory body for manufacturing and sale of medicines. Dr MA Sufi stressed upon the masses to adopt Islamic teachings and hygienic principles.
