Odisha Cracks Down On Antimicrobial Overuse, Mandates Doctors To Justify Prescriptions

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to curb the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, the Odisha government on Wednesday made it mandatory for doctors in medical colleges and peripheral health institutions to clearly state the reason for prescribing these drugs. This move comes six days after the Union Health Ministry issued a similar directive to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance.

Shalini Pandit, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Health & Family Welfare Department, emphasized in a letter to department directors and medical facility superintendents the crucial role that judicious antimicrobial use by doctors can play in delaying the development of resistance. The directive encourages medical practitioners to set an example for the next generation by prescribing antimicrobials responsibly.

The letter underscores the importance of pharmacists adhering to the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, selling antibiotics only with valid prescriptions. It also echoes a recent call from the Union Health Ministry for doctors across medical colleges to make it mandatory to provide the “indication/reason/justification” when prescribing antibiotics. To further combat antibiotic resistance, the Director General of Health Services has appealed to pharmacists to cease over-the-counter sales of antibiotics without a qualified doctor’s prescription.