Health Summit Calls for Urgent Action on Antibiotic Overuse in Pakistan

Around 300,000 people die every year in Pakistan due to drug-resistant bacteria. This is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to health officials, physicians, public health experts and policymakers, almost 700,000 people (about half the population of Hawaii) die from this problem around the world every year.  

When it comes to antibiotic use, Pakistan is the third highest country in the world that uses antibiotics after China and India. In 2023 alone, antibiotics worth Rs 126 billion were consumed in this country. Healthcare experts suggest people not to buy or use antibiotics without advice from trained and qualified physicians.  

Vice-chancellor of Islamabad’s Health Services Academy (HAS), Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan said that after heart diseases and maternal and neonatal disorders, AMR has become the third most common cause of death in Pakistan. He further added that the current infections are caused by bacteria that are not responding to even the most advanced antibiotics. This issue was discussed at a press conference at Astola. This event was part of Pakistan’s first National Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit and was organized by Getz Pharma in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of National Health services, the HAS and Islamabad’s National Institute of Health (NIH). This summit was attended by more than 1400 healthcare professionals.  

Prof. Khan further said that antibiotics have been effectively saving many lives. But their misuse is responsible for AMR- a major public health concern. He explained several things that cause AMR such as self-medication, prescribing antibiotics without any need, using antibiotics for too short of a time and production of substandard antibiotics.  

Prof. Javed Akram praises Getz Pharma for organizing this summit as it spread awareness about the issue of AMR. Dr. Afreenish Amir said that AMR is a global problem caused by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. She also explained that this leads to more infection and fewer treatment options.  

In this summit, experts also discussed the overuse of antibiotics in animals, it causes almost 80% of AMR. They said there is a need for public awareness about the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals. One of the famous doctors and public health scientists, Prof, Zulfiqar Bhutta suggested parents that they should protect their kids against typhoid because Pakistan is the only country that provides the typhoid conjugate vaccine to stop drug resistant typhoid.  

In this summit, the NIH, the HAS and Getz Pharma signed a declaration to start antimicrobial management. Memorandums of understanding were also signed with 13 medical societies to support this work.