The number of people consuming antimicrobials has increased in Nepal. Twenty-eight percent of patients are using antimicrobials without doctors' prescription, according to a study.
Releasing a study report on Thursday, Nepal Health Research Council has shared that 70 percent people in Nepal were consuming strong antimicrobials. Associate Professor of microbiology at Tribhuvan University, Dr Meghraj Banjara, who was involved in the study, shared this at a programme.
Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infections. These medicines are antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics.
In the world, 180 antimicrobials have been divided into three groups. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged for minimum use of strong antimicrobials, its use is on surge in Nepal. Its use is excessive here, Dr Banjara explained.
There is sheer misuse of antimicrobials in Nepal. Even the doctors are not prescribing it accurately, while people buy these without doctors' prescription.
"The use of infection treating medicine is so common and excessive that they are no more effective," Dr Banjara said, adding that no new antimicrobials have been invented for 36 years. Such medicine must be used only as per need- no more than need. It helps that they can be used for a long time.
Dr Banjara further said even the doctors were prescribing antimicrobials without testing whether it functions or not.
According to the study finding, 28 percent people buy antimicrobials on their own- without doctors' prescription. Similarly, 22 percent do not meet the dose.
Some of the medicines used without doctors' reference are azithromycin, amoxicillin, cefixim, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole.
As per WHO standard, only 20 to 26 percent of patients can be prescribed antimicrobials while 37.8 percent are using it in Nepal.
(Sharad Sharma)
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