Antibiotics Can Only Be Sold With Prescription From a Licensed Doctor: DRAP
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has introduced a new rule requiring licensed doctors to prescribe antibiotics before they can be sold. This change applies to all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
On Friday, DRAP officials announced this new measure to fight the increasing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and to prevent the dangerous practice of self-medication.
Self-medication, where people take these medicine without a doctor's advice, can lead to misuse and overuse of these medicines. This misuse also makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics, making it harder to treat infections. DRAP's new rule aims to address these issues.
According to local pharmaceutical data, Pakistan spent around Rs. 13...