DILI, 14 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The Health Professional of the Ministry of Health (MoH) warned the communities to not overuse antibiotics or inappropriately use them for different diseases.
Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health challenge, which has been accelerated by the overuse of antibiotics worldwide.
The National Director of Pharmacy and Medicines of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Alipio Gusmão Lopes, informed that in Timor-Leste anyone can get antibiotics from any private pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
“For instance, we have seen many community members bought Amoxicillin from the private clinics without doctor’s prescription. You know, they may use it for treating different diseases. So, if they keep using it and the consequence is that they would need another antibiotic with a higher dose for treating same diseases and infections in the future,” said Lopes.
He said increased antimicrobial resistance is the cause of severe infections, complications, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality.
Overprescribing of antibiotics is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects, more frequent re-attendance, and increased medicalization of self-limiting conditions, Lopes emphasized.
Lopes said frequent and inappropriate use of antibiotics can cause bacteria or other microbes to change so antibiotics don’t work against them.
“I call on communities to stop buying amoxicillin and other antibiotics. They also need to stop taking advice from neighbors, family members, and friends on buying any antibiotics. If necessary, they need to see doctors at the nearest medical care centers to take antibiotics,” Lopes stressed.
WHO said that a growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective.
Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality, said on WHO’s the website.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
