(Eagle News) — The Department of Health has warned the public against “self-medication” especially with regard to taking antibiotics without proper prescription from doctors.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said taking antibiotics without any prescription from a health expert can lead to antimicrobial resistance.
“Tanggalin natin yung self medication behavior… Hangga’t maari, sumangguni tayo sa lahat po ng pampublikong pagamutan, o kung kakayanin, sa mga pribadong pagamutan at kumuha po ng tamang reseta, at siguraduhin na buuin ang pag-inom nung niresetang gamut (Let’s do away with the behavior of self-medication. As much as possible, we should go to public health centers, or if you can, go to private hospitals, and obtain the right prescription and make sure that you complete the dosage of the medicine prescribed),” Duque said during a press conference.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Antibiotic resistance is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection prevention and control.”
It is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today, and can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.
It said “a growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective.”
WHO added that “antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.”
Duque said that resistance to antibiotics because of improper use is becoming a “serious global health concern.”
“It is a serious global health concern as it compromises the ability to treat infectious diseases, as well as undermines many other advances in medicine in both human and animal health,” he said.
WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler also advised the public to never share their prescribed antibiotics to their loved ones.
“While it is a complex issue, there are also simple solutions that each of us can do such as seeking advice from a healthcare professional before taking antibiotics; never share antibiotics with loved ones; and preventing infections at the start,” said Weiler.