Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain announced that the government will intensify enforcement drives to stop the sale of antibiotics without valid medical prescriptions. He warned that the misuse of antibiotics has become a major public health threat due to the growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The minister assured that existing laws prohibiting the sale of antibiotics without a physician's prescription are being strictly enforced and will be further strengthened.
Sakhawat Husain made the remarks while responding to a call attention notice on matters of urgent public importance raised by ruling party lawmaker Shirin Sultana in the Jatiya Sangsad. Sultana highlighted that many people take antibiotics on the advice of pharmacy salespersons instead of consulting registered physicians. She also noted that incomplete courses of antibiotics contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making common infections increasingly difficult to treat.
FAQs
- **What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?** Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
- **Why is the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions dangerous?** The sale of antibiotics without prescriptions can lead to misuse and overuse, contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance. This makes infections harder to treat and can lead to more severe health outcomes.
- **What actions is the government taking to address this issue?** The government is intensifying enforcement drives, conducting regular inspections at medicine shops, and taking legal action against offenders, including fines and imprisonment.
- **What are the consequences of selling antibiotics without prescriptions?** Offenders can face fines, imprisonment, and other punitive measures. The law provides for a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment for such offenses.
