Unprescribed Use of Antibiotic in South Haryana: A Need for Change

Alexander Fleming discovered 1st antibiotics penicillin for the treatment of microbial diseases. Later it becomes the leading weapon for the treatment of microbial infection. The dramatic role was attributed to lack of primary resistance among bacteria and scarcity of antibiotics with a high cost. Later on progressive decrease in the rate of antibiotics in the global pharmaceutical industry took advantage of the decreased cost of production in the world market. In developing countries the irrational use of antibiotics has driven the relentless expansion of bacteria. The situation is due to inadequate regulations of the drug use. The sale of antibiotics without medical prescription has been observed in many countries of the world. The practice is more common in developing and low income countries. It is due to poor legislation and regulations. Due to this antibiotics are illegally purchased without medical prescription. It is aim of this paper to discussed prescribed and non-prescribed sale of antibiotics in South Haryana. It will discuss the evidence, resistance, legislation, probable solutions and change in the practice for the sale of drug in South Haryana.

In getting material for this paper electronic data basis were searched. The data includes news reports, Medline, community pharmacy record and visitors mock observation. The majority of the studies assessed over the counter sale of antibiotics at various community centers. The observation assessed the great pattern of self-medication.

The evidence based on the sale of antibiotics without prescription is very small. While sale of antibiotics over the counter of the chemist shop is wide spread. The evidences for the unprescribed sale are very poor. The detailed publish data availability is also uncommon. But the assets factors of self-medication are found very common in the localities, towns, village communities and poor slum areas. The number of unregistered medical practitioner is very evident in the localities. According to registered council of health the number of pharmacist in the year 2001 was 9210 in the state. Later the number increases 1:50 per city in the state. Government agencies regulate the practice of pharmacy in all aspects even though the illegal sale is at its role.

The chemists play a significant role in the pharmaceutical industry for the discipline sale of drugs. Pharmacists have the great role to contribute great health care. However, due to deficiencies in the quality of current professionals the unprescribed sale is promoted in the state. The weakness of primary health care also promoted the episodes of irrational prescription of drug. look after minor problems of health with simple and effective remedies. It has been supported worldwide but it is more common in developing countries and poor health center. Self-Medicated use of antibiotics is one of the most common ways to misuse the antibiotics. The practice of self-medication cuts the culture, gender, age, health status, social status and occupation in the state. The self-medication rate among various age groups observed it 37%. The greatest threat of self-medication of anti-biotic has increased bacterial resistance. The human malpractice has resulted in adequate and incomplete treatment course. High level of self-medication promotes uncontrolled sale of medicine in the area.

The irrational use of antibiotics over the state has created many side effects in human. This use of the drugs has promoted bacterial resistance for diseases. It has also promoted the treatment complications. Pregnancy status is critical in the state. Illness and infections has reached complication status. Some classes of drug have very poor effect on the diseases treatment. Certain disorders like too the discoloration is very common in the children. The drug has a very reverse effect on intestinal and vaginal flora. It will increase a great burden on pharmaceutical industry. On a global scale, resistance to penicillin was estimated between 5% and 98% for gonorrhea for tuberculosis it is observed 0% to 20%. Drug self-medication in future will increase failure of pharma industry. It is essential to enforce law and regulation in the state for the sale of drugs. The Registration and licensing of qualified pharmacists should be promoted. The practice of the professionals should also be promoted. Community pharmacists must accepts their role as health professionals and not business men, and make necessary changes in behavior to carry out their services.

In relation to unprescribed use of antibiotics, there is an immediate need for a global action to tackle the problem of self-medication. Public awareness regarding the danger of the practice should be raised and information should be available to the general public legislation and controlled regulations should be applied for the license and the sale of drug. Qualified persons should be given license for the supply of drug. Administration control should be appropriate on the pharmaceutical bodies. Strategies to improve pharmacy practice should be enhanced. The people should be bound by ethics and moral. Similarly the people must accept pharmacist as provider of health service rather than promoter of self-medication. antibiotics will promote antibiotic resistance in the microbes. It will be difficult to control microbial infection due to drug resistivity of the microbes. This practice is unethical and inappropriate for the community, living world and nations. There should be restrictions on some class of antibiotics. There should be great checks on unregistered health practitioner. There should also be provision of fine and punishment. Otherwise in future it will affect all living world and microbial physiology. It is not only the duty of state Government but also it is the duty of nation to stop irrational use of drugs.

American Journal of Public Health. 1978; 68(5): pp. 495-497 Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook, 2011. Educational Strategies to promote evidence based community pharmacy practice: A cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), Family Practice. 2002. Gaash B. Irrational use of antibiotics. Indian journal of practicing doctor. 2008;5(1): pp. 25-29 International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2004; 24(2): pp. 105-110 National Drug Policy 2005. World Health Organisation (WHO). Antimicrobial resistance. World Health Organisation. The role of pharmacist in self-care.

Assistant Professor, Government College, Kanina