BMC steps in to curb drug misuse

In keeping with the World Health Organisation (WHO) theme for 2011 of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned a host of measures to spread the message.

Firstly, the civic body will warn citizens against the intake of antibiotics for cough, cold and types of diarrhoea. Dr GT Ambe, executive health officer, BMC, said, “We are already witnessing the fallout of irrational antibiotic use with many developing multi-drug resistance. People pop pills even for an ordinary cold and cough. Most times, they force doctors to put them on antibiotics for speedy recovery.”

The corporation plans to spread awareness on the use of antibiotics via posters. It has also sent guidelines to general physicians. “Along with our team from medical colleges, we have set a standard treatment protocol as per WHO recommendations,” said Dr Ambe.

An increasing number of bacteria are becoming resistant to common antibiotics. In addition, many bacteria are becoming resistant to all known antibiotics. This condition is known as multi-resistance, and is generally described as one of the most significant future threats to public health.

The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) is also conducting research to replace or reduce dependence on allopathic drugs for common ailments. Arun Jamkar, vice-chancellor of MUHS, said, “Ayurvedic colleges across Pune and Nashik will soon conduct clinical trials to test the efficacy of Ayurveda-based medicines in routine treatments. We are not trying to combat allopathy, but evolve a holistic system of medicine. This can also reduce the burden of treatment on allopathic medicines and reduce the problem of drug resistance.”