Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 26 May 2024
Directorate of Health Services has issued an urgent advisory highlighting the critical risks associated with self-medication. This practice, which involves obtaining and using medications without the guidance of a physician and a valid prescription, poses significant dangers to both individuals and communities. The Directorate emphasises the immediate need for a widespread public awareness campaign to educate the population on these risks.
While self-medication might seem convenient for minor ailments or common symptoms, it can lead to serious health consequences. The advisory outlines several key dangers:
1. Misdiagnosis: Without proper medical assessment, individuals may misdiagnose their condition and administer inappropriate treatments. This can delay accurate diagnosis and necessary treatment, potentially worsening the condition.
2. Adverse Drug Reactions: Using medications without understanding their action, indication, and dosage can result in serious, sometimes life-threatening, adverse drug reactions.
3. Drug Interactions: Mixing medications without professional guidance can lead to harmful drug interactions, which can reduce treatment effectiveness or cause severe adverse effects.
4. Masking of Disease Symptoms: Self-medication may temporarily relieve symptoms, masking an underlying disease that could worsen and require medical attention. This delay in proper diagnosis and treatment can lead to more severe health issues.
5. Development of Antibiotic Resistance: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a common self-medication practice. This not only contributes to antibiotic resistance, making these crucial drugs ineffective against bacterial infections, but also increases the risk of infections with resistant organisms.
6. Addiction and Dependency: Many medications, particularly opioids and sedatives, carry risks of addiction and dependency when used without medical supervision. Self-medication with these substances can lead to substance abuse disorders and other severe health complications.
The Directorate urges the public to avoid self-medication and to always consult a physician and obtain a valid prescription before using any medication. The advisory strongly advises against the use of antibiotics without a prescription, encapsulated in the slogan: “Say ‘No to antibiotics without prescription’.”
The health authorities are calling for a concerted effort to educate the public on these dangers, aiming to reduce the harmful practice of self-medication and promote safer health practices.