Experts have expressed concerns over the incessant prescription of antibiotics by health workers, saying it could lead to increased fatalities from infections and wounds.
They spoke at a virtual media dialogue organised by St. Racheals Pharma to mark 2021 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
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Dr Esohe Ogboghodo, a public health physician, said: “Antibiotics are being over-prescribed by health workers.
“Sometimes, as a result of patient’s demand, while they’re also being over-used by the public.
“Poor adherence to antibiotics prescription by individuals has also been implicated.”
Another panelist, Dr Bamidele Mutiu, a consultant clinical microbiologist at the Lagos State College of Medicine and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, also blamed health practitioners for contributing to antibiotic resistance situation in Nigeria.
According to him, some doctors prescribe the drugs without proper investigation to ensure whether or not antibiotics are required.
Managing Director, St. Racheal’s Pharma, Akinjide Adeosun, traced the problem of antibiotic resistance in Nigeria to the country’s high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.
He said the pressure on patients to pay often leads to sub-optimal purchase of antimicrobial doses, thereby, encouraging microbials to be resistant to available drugs.
The meeting advised against prescribing antibiotics based on non-evidence-based historical practices, patient demand, convenience, or pressure from colleagues, to delay appointment, or to retain the patient.
It also urged governments, medical practitioners and stakeholders to make concerted efforts to preserve the few antibiotics currently in the market to ensure their continued effectiveness, as no new ones were currently being introduced. NAN
