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The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has implemented a new regulation mandating that antibiotics be sold only with a prescription from a licensed medical professional.
The health departments of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the other four provinces have all received this directive.
With stringent rules now in place, authorities aim to tackle the growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)—a serious situation where bacteria evolve to become resistant to antibiotics, rendering these medicines ineffective.
Officials have warned that self-medicating can lead to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, exacerbating resistance and diminishing the effectiveness of these crucial drugs.
Recent statistics indicate that Pakistanis spent approximately Rs135 billion on antibiotics in 2022. A significant issue is the irrational use of these drugs, with 70% to 80% being prescribed for conditions that do not require antibiotics.
