Pakistan faces growing threat of antibiotic resistance, says expert

Pakistanis spend millions of dollars on medicines each year, making the pharmaceutical sector one of the country’s most profitable. Yet, as profits soar, public health faces a critical threat from rampant antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Obaid Ali, a renowned pharmacist, highlights the severity of the issue, noting that "80% of prescriptions in Pakistan include antibiotics," contributing to a national health crisis. He adds, "Doctors often prescribe antibiotics over the phone without taking any tests, which fuels the misuse of these medications."

The easy availability of antibiotics over the counter encourages self-medication, further exacerbating the problem. “A bacteria exposed to antibiotics will develop resistance and pass it on to its offspring,” Dr. Ali explains. “While the bacteria may die, it transfers survival skills to its group, leading to new pathogens that are resistant to treatment.”

The impact of this resistance is already being felt, with Dr. Ali reporting an increase in cases of total antibiotic resistance. He points to recent high-profile lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, including GSK's agreement to pay up to $2.2 billion to settle most lawsuits in U.S. state courts claiming that a discontinued version of the heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer. "What about the people in Pakistan?" Dr. Ali questions, emphasizing the need for accountability in the local market.

As antibiotic misuse rises, so does the frequency of doctor visits. Dr. Ali notes, "In the past, we would go to the doctor once or twice a year; now, young people visit up to 10 times." He attributes this to an alarming increase in medication consumption: "If you were consuming 100 pills a year before, now it’s up to 2,000."

Despite the pressing health concerns, the pharmaceutical industry remains focused on profit. "The CEO's priority is to deliver good profits for shareholders, not to prioritize health," Dr. Ali says. This profit-driven mentality has positioned the pharmaceutical sector among the top 10 most lucrative industries on the KSE 100, Pakistan's stock exchange.