Pharmacists in Hyderabad are welcoming the orders from the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS) regarding the prescription of antibiotics. The DGHS has stated that doctors must provide reasons and instructions for prescribing antibiotics, in order to combat the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The DGHS MD Atul Goel has expressed concern about the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, which has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens and the deaths of millions of people. In his letter to pharmacist associations and medical colleges, Goel emphasized the importance of using antibiotics judiciously and mentioned that pharmacists should not sell antibiotics without a prescription from a qualified doctor.
The letter also mentioned that if the problem of AMR worsens in the future, it will be the responsibility of the next generation of doctors to deal with it. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned that AMR is a silent epidemic and could result in the deaths of more than one million people worldwide by 2050. A former president of Telangana Pharmacy Council, A Sanjay Reddy, highlighted the need for awareness among pharmacists to follow these guidelines.
In conclusion, the DGHS has taken steps to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance by requiring doctors to provide reasons and instructions for prescribing antibiotics. Pharmacists are supportive of these orders and emphasize the importance of following them to combat the increasing problem of drug-resistant pathogens.
