Under the new policy, antibiotics can now only be dispensed with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. This directive has been issued to health departments across the entire country, including all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
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The stringent regulations aim to tackle the issue of AMR, a critical problem where bacteria evolve to become resistant to antibiotics, rendering these essential drugs ineffective. Authorities have emphasized that self-medication often leads to misuse and overuse of antibiotics, exacerbating resistance and diminishing the effectiveness of these medicines.
In 2022, Pakistanis spent approximately Rs135 billion on antibiotics, with a significant portion of these drugs being used irrationally. Studies indicate that 70% to 80% of antibiotics were prescribed for conditions that do not require them.
The unregulated sale of antibiotics has contributed to this misuse. To combat this, DRAP is planning to work closely with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and healthcare commissions to address and penalize medical professionals who improperly prescribe antibiotics or do so for personal gain.
