The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a groundbreaking directive advising health departments nationwide to ensure that antibiotic medicines are sold only with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner. This measure aims to address the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and curb the dangerous practice of self-medication.
Issued to the health departments of all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the directive reflects DRAP’s commitment to tackling AMR and controlling the misuse of antibiotics. DRAP officials emphasized that self-medication can lead to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, thereby exacerbating resistance and diminishing the effectiveness of crucial drugs.
According to local pharmaceutical industry data, Pakistan’s antibiotic sales in 2022 amounted to approximately Rs135 billion. Alarmingly, 70% to 80% of these antibiotics were prescribed and consumed unnecessarily for self-limiting conditions, contributing to the serious threat of AMR. This misuse undermines the efficacy of antibiotics against disease-causing microorganisms, posing a significant public health risk.
DRAP Chief Executive Officer Asim Rauf highlighted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized AMR as a global threat since 2014, primarily due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. He noted that the sale of antibiotics without a prescription in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, has led to widespread misuse and abuse through self-medication. Consequently, Pakistan must restrict antibiotic sales to prescription-only to prevent self-medication.
DRAP has advised all provincial health departments, as well as the governments of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad, to enforce this restriction. In response to concerns about unethical and incentivized prescriptions, DRAP plans to collaborate with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and healthcare commissions nationwide to take action against healthcare professionals who prescribe antibiotics irrationally or for incentives. Additionally, DRAP intends to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable, promising stern action against those offering incentives for irrational antibiotic prescriptions.
An advisory from DRAP’s Director of Pharmacy Services, Dr. Obaidullah, emphasized DRAP’s role as the ‘National Focal Point’ for Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance (AMCS) in combating AMR. This initiative underscores DRAP’s dedication to ensuring the responsible use of antibiotics to safeguard public health.
