Doctors Urge Action Against Over-the-Counter Antibiotic Sales to Curb Resistance

Health experts in Pakistan are urging stricter controls on the sale of antibiotics, warning that easy over-the-counter access is driving resistance that could render common infections untreatable. The appeal comes as patients increasingly buy antibiotics without a prescription for viral seasonal illnesses such as fever, cold, cough, and sore throat—conditions that antibiotics cannot treat.

General practitioner Dr Tauqeer Ahad described antibiotic resistance as a serious public health challenge, explaining that bacteria can develop ways to survive the medicines designed to kill them. 'When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, resistant bacteria can emerge and spread, making routine infections harder to treat,' he said.

Senior physician Dr Maqsood Malik stressed that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections, not viruses. Medical specialist Dr Naila Shamim urged patients to stop demanding the drugs or using leftover prescriptions. 'Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a qualified doctor,' she said.

Experts warned that misuse allows resistant bacteria to spread, weakening treatments and straining healthcare systems. They called for responsible prescribing, stricter enforcement against unnecessary sales, and preventive steps such as handwashing, hygiene, a balanced diet, and limiting close contact with infected people.

The message to authorities is clear: controlling antibiotic supply is as important as educating the people who misuse it.