PM stresses stopping antibiotics sale without prescription

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday laid stress on stopping antibiotics sale without physician's prescription as Director of Biology Department of Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research, Oxford University, United Kingdom, Professor Timothy E Walsh called on her, reports BSS.

"The selling of antibiotics without physician's prescription must be stopped," Prime Minister's Speech Writer Md. Nazrul Islam quoted her as saying in a media briefing after the meeting at PM's official residence Ganabhaban.

According to Nazrul Islam, the prime minister said necessary restrictions should be imposed to stop selling antibiotics without physician's prescription.

Sheikh Hasina said once antibiotics would have to be given from various community clinics of the country, but now it has been completely stopped.

"Now, antibiotics are given from the public hospitals with the prescriptions of the physicians," she said.

Urging the proper use of antibiotics, the prime minister said efforts are being made to ensure that antibiotics are not sold everywhere in Bangladesh.

Timothy E Walsh said that anti-microbial resistance (AMR) has become an epidemic in the world right now.

Noting that if it is not prevented now, he said it will take a more dire form in the future.

"It may cause millions of people's death," he feared.

He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's role during her period as co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.

In the meeting, the premier highlighted her government's steps for overall development of health sector including establishment of specialised hospitals and institutes such as National Institute of Ophthalmology, Sheikh Russell Gastroliver Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute Cancer and Neuro Science Hospital.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given special emphasis to research in various fields including agriculture, basic science and medical.

She said that apart from providing scholarships to general students, fellowships are also given to 200 higher education institutions for higher education, especially in PhD, post-doctoral and research fields.

The Oxford University professor proposed to introduce Bangabandhu-IOI fellowship from Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research for Bangladeshi students to pave the way of conducting research in medical and basic sciences under the fellowship.

In response, the prime minister gave her consent, in-principle, to this fellowship.

In addition, Timothy E Walsh also proposed a partnership of the Bangladesh National Parliament on AMR with the Caucuses of the British Parliament and the prime minister gave her positive response as well.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and her personal physician Professor Dr. A B M Abdullah were present.