The issue of antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health as well as calls for increased awareness and responsible usage of medications, reports UNB.
The sale of antibiotics without a registered physician's prescription is a punishable offence. On 18 September 2023, the parliament approved the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, banning the sale of antibiotic drugs without a prescription from a registered doctor.
However, a visit to several pharmacies in Dhaka reveals most pharmacists are either unaware of the law or only a few are rigorously enforcing it.
Globally, the Antibiotic Awareness Week is observed from November 18 to 24, spotlighting the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. Experts are discussing the causes, prevention, and treatment of antibiotic resistance, along with relevant legislative actions.
Prof Shamsuzzaman, former head of the Microbiology Department at Dhaka Medical College (DMC), explains that excessive or improper use of antibiotics can cause bacteria in the human body to develop resistance, a phenomenon known as antibiotic resistance.
He warns that indiscriminate antibiotic use inevitably leads to this problem. "The more antibiotics are used, the more bacteria adapt and become resistant," he has said.
Professor Shamsuzzaman also emphasises the importance of performing antibiotic culture sensitivity tests before administering antibiotics. These tests identify which antibiotics will be effective against specific bacteria, though only 1.0 per cent of patients in Bangladesh undergo this testing due to its cost and time consumption.
Dr Sajjad bin Shahid, current head of the Microbiology Department at DMC, has said in Bangladesh, antibiotics are frequently given for simple ailments like colds or fevers, contributing significantly to resistance.
He likens the spread of antibiotic resistance to infectious diseases, noting that resistant bacteria can be passed from person to person, spreading throughout communities.
In many developed countries, antibiotics cannot be bought without a prescription. However, this is not the case in Bangladesh, where the easy availability of antibiotics exacerbates the issue.
Dr Shahid also stresses that many people do not realise antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, such as influenza, which constitute 99 per cent of respiratory illnesses.
He hopes that the new law would curb indiscriminate antibiotic use. Previously, the pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription were not penalised, but now mobile courts can enforce the law and impose fines.
According to Mohammad Nurul Alam, former deputy director and legal officer of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), antibiotic resistance causes the deaths of 5.0 million people annually, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
He has mentioned that previous public health laws were inadequate, necessitating the new regulation to prohibit the sale of antibiotics without a registered physician's prescription. While many pharmacists remain unaware of these regulations, the DGDA assures that initiatives are in place to raise awareness.
DGDA Director Ashraf Hossain has said under Section 22 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 2023, the pharmacies found dispensing antibiotics without a prescription will face a fine of Tk 22,000. This regulation is legally enforced.
Enforcement actions will be conducted through mobile courts, leading to swift legal proceedings and execution of penalties. The violators risk having their licences revoked.
To prevent such violations, steps will be taken to increase awareness among pharmacy operators and the public. The authorities will conduct visits to pharmacies to issue warnings, and measures will be implemented to ensure prompt punishment for anyone dispensing medications without a valid prescription, he has added.
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