"Do not buy antibiotics without a prescription from a doctor. This is crucial for our people," he remarked at the summit event of World AMR Awareness Week 2024 in Jakarta on Sunday.
Sadikin emphasized that an independent, unsupervised purchase of antimicrobial medicines could put people at risk of the improper and excessive use of such drugs.
Such a practice will, in turn, result in germs in the body developing resistance against the very medicines designed to kill them, he pointed out.
"Many have died from sepsis at hospitals. Sepsis is caused by an infection, which is supposed to be dealt with by antibiotics. Then, why did some people die? Because the drugs consumed are no longer effective," he pointed out.
The minister also urged all doctors to provide people with reliable information and educate them on the danger posed by the excessive and improper consumption of antibiotics.
"And once you have received a doctor's prescription, you must take the antibiotics exactly at the frequency and duration dictated by the medication guides inscribed," Sadikin said.
Furthermore, Sadikin drew attention to the high usage rate of antimicrobial drugs in Indonesia, pointing to the fact that some research has shown antibiotic contamination in unusual places.
Bearing that in mind, the minister encouraged citizens to exercise prudence when buying and consuming antibiotics to protect Indonesia from the threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is considered to be a silent pandemic.
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Translator: Sean F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Atman Ahdiat
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