The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has rightly asked octors to stop prescribing antibiotics for those suffering from the common cold, bronchitis, sinus infections or a sore throat, all of which fall under Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI). Dr SS Agarwal, national president of the IMA, even stated that over 50 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions were perhaps unnecessary or inappropriate. He also claimed that this unnecessary antibiotic use for ARTI is a factor that contributes to antibiotic resistant infections, which is a serious public health threat. For infections such as these, there are analgesics and other medicine that would be far better.
It is certainly true that many doctors prescribe antibiotics for simple issues, perhaps due to the cursory examination conducted. Patients too ask for antibiotics, believing them to be a quick fix. It is high time that proper diagnostics are done to properly evaluate whether the problem is viral or bacterial and then prescribe medicines accordingly.
Of course, this cannot reflect on the medical profession as a whole. There are thousands of diligent doctors out there who do what is right. Painting the entire profession with the same brush would be unjust. But there have to be measures put in place to first create awareness about the misuse of antibiotics, and also to curb over the counter sales of these drugs.
