Summary:
ICMR’s Dr Walia said, “If doctors realize their treatment is being monitored, they may be more prudent in prescription.” But doctors face pressure from patients too. Experts, though, fear that this could be a case of too little, too late.WHO observes an antimicrobial resistance awareness week to focus on this problem. Prescribing doctors have to give a justification within two days for giving the patient the drug. “A study showed that 70% times a patient initiates use of antibiotics,” said Dr Singh. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), too, started a pilot project a couple of years ago in which doctors of Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital and five others in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata were told to provide a “justification” within two days of prescribing restricted antibiotics..