ZCZC
BSS-24
HC-ANTIBIOTIC-BAN
HC orders ban on antibiotics sale without prescription
DHAKA, April 25, 2019 (BSS) – The High Court today ordered authorities concerned to ban selling of antibiotics without prescriptions of registered doctors.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the interim order and issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why selling of antibiotics without prescriptions shall not be declared illegal.
The court came up with the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and social activist Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman.
The court also asked the director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to issue a circular in this regard within two days of getting today’s order and send it to deputy commissioners and civil surgeons across the country to take action against selling of antibiotics without prescriptions.
Barrister Suman, well known for his awareness campaign on social networking sites, filed the writ referring to recent newspaper reports on antimicrobial resistance.
“Around 900 people were admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) ICU last year. Of them, 400 died because of antibiotics. What more proof we need here to stop indiscriminate use of antibiotics! Now if the deputy commissioners and civil surgeons take action, we can at least save our future generation,” Barrister Suman told BSS.
He also mentioned a report of British daily The Telegraph titled “Superbugs linked to eight out of 10 deaths in Bangladeshi ICUs” published on April 22.
BSS/MHR/BR/1723 Hrs