DCs asked to monitor antibiotic sale
Health minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday directed deputy commissioners to monitor sale of un-prescribed antibiotics and date expired medicines.
He also directed the DCs to monitor whether or not antibiotics were administered on cattle and poultry birds.
The health minister gave the directives at a working session on the DCs conference at the Cabinet Division in the secretariat.
The session over, he told reporters that he directed the DCs to keep watch to stop the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions and date expired medicines.
He also asked the DCs to keep a watchful eye to find out whether or not dairy and poultry farms use antibiotics for better sales value.
Un-prescribed use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry birds enter into consumers and make them antibiotic resistant, he said.
The health minister gave the directives one day after the High Court Division banned un-prescribed antibiotics for cows.
The High Court Division’s several previous directives to stop the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions fell on the authorities’ deaf ears.
The National Drug Policy also prohibits any sale of antibiotics without prescriptions.
The health minister said that he also directed the DCs to keep vigil on food contamination, environment, air and water pollution.
He also directed the DCs to hold regular coordination meetings with civil surgeons to ensure healthcare service.
The DCs were also asked to pay regular visits to hospitals to ensure doctors’ presence and proper waste management, Zahid said.
He said that he briefed the DCs about future health service plans that envisage setting up one cancer hospital and a kidney hospital in each division and a five-bed kidney dialysis centre at each district town.
The five-day annual DCs meet ends today.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
