DOH warns of drug resistance, urges Filipinos to take antibiotics only when prescribed

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday urged the public to take antibiotic drugs only when prescribed by doctors.

Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the DOH had observed an increase in antibiotic resistance in the country as Filipinos took antibiotics even for sore throats and fevers.

“Gusto lang ho namin magpaalala sa ating mga kababyan magkaroon po tayo ng tama na paginom ng gamot. The antibiotics that we use should be prescribed by physicians,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

[We just want to remind the public to take drugs as prescribed. The antibiotics that we use should be prescribed by physicians.]

“So these kinds of practices, lalo pong tumataas ang tsansa na magkaroon ng resistance sa antibiotics (so these kinds of practices, there is a higher chance of getting a higher resistance to antibiotics),” she said.

The Health undersecretary also called on drug stores to refrain from dispensing antibiotics without a prescription from a doctor.

“Dahil ‘yun pong over the counter selling ng mga antibiotics, nakaka-contribute po doon sa pagtaas ng resistance sa antibiotics dito sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said.

[Because the over-the-counter selling of antibiotics can contribute to the increase of resistance in the country.]

Vergeire issued the remark a day after Dr. Susan Hopkins of the UK Health Security Agency warned against antimicrobial resistance.

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been described as a hidden pandemic and it’s important that we do not come out of COVID-19 and enter into another crisis,” Hopkins said in a statement.

Hopkins said COVID-19 restrictions, as well as prevention and control measures, may have played a part in driving down resistance.

“While these measures were severe, serious antibiotic-resistant infections will rise once again if we don’t act responsibly and that can be as simple as regular and thorough handwashing,” Hopkins said.

Vergeire said AMR is critical as infections that have built up resistance against certain antibiotics may end up being transmitted to other individuals.

Citing tuberculosis as an example, she said drugs against the disease had increased over time as it built up resistance against antibiotics.

“Hanggang sa dumating tayo na meron na tayong tinatawag na multi drug resistant tuberculosis. At dito na po lumabas ang mas nakakataas na antas na gamot laban sa tuberculosis dahil ‘yung mga ordinaryong gamot, hindi na po tumatalab para sa kanila,” Vergeire said.

[Until we reached a point that we had what we call multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. And this is when higher levels of drugs against tuberculosis came out because it can no longer be combated by ordinary drugs.]

Vergeire said these individuals with mild-drug-resistant tuberculosis have a higher chance of succumbing to the illness.

“Pangalawa, kapag sila ay nakapagkalat ng sakit na ito, maaring ‘yung kinakalat nila ay mas resistant doon sa gamot na resistant na rin sa gamot na meron tayo na ordinaryo sa tuberculosis,” she said.

[Second, if they transmit the disease, they may transmit the disease that has a higher resistance to the antibiotics.]

“So hopefully, we do not get to that point (hopefully, we do not get to that point),” she added. -NB, GMA News