Mumbai: The Union Health Ministry has shelved for an indefinite period the much-awaited National Antibiotic Policy which would clamp down on the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics.
After sitting on the proposed National Antibiotic Policy for more than an year, the Health Ministry has now decided to put it on hold indefinitely, citing concerns over access to medicines, in rural areas.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Health Minister, said, "It should me made compulsory that no one can take antibiotics without doctor's prescription."
And yet there is no question that India needs tighter monitoring of antibiotic sales, the emergence of the NDM-1 superbug and high incidence of bacterial resistance are something the government cannot afford to ignore....
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09:47 AM, Oct 14, 2011
