HMC study finds that many private clinics in Qatar prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily
After a visit to some private clinics in the country, you may have often scratched your head in bewilderment at the amount of medicines being prescribed by doctors.
If you’ve ever felt you were given an awful lot of antibiotic medicines unnecessarily, then chances are that it was true. Or so proves a research study commissioned by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
According to the study, nearly half of antibiotics prescribed by private clinics in Qatar may be unnecessary, reported Gulf Times.
Staff from HMC, Ministry of Public Health and Qatar University evaluated over 75,000 health insurance claims related to prescriptions for antibiotics and found that ‘45 % were for conditions which typically do not require antibiotics.’
The study, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that misuse of antibiotics threatens the usefulness of these important drugs.
Improper use of antibiotics accelerates the emergence of drug-resistant infections, which results in an increased risk of serious illness and even death among individuals with infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria or pathogens, reported The Peninsula.
The study examined the pattern of antibiotic prescriptions for outpatients in private clinics in Qatar between May, 2014, and December, 2015, and highlighted the importance of not prescribing medications unnecessarily, such as in cases where infections are known to be self-limiting.
Professor Abdul Badi Abou Samra, Chairman of Internal Medicine for HMC, had a word of caution against overuse of antibiotics.
“Antibiotics are one of the most powerful tools we’ve to fight life-threatening infections. They can successfully combat infections that used to be fatal, like bacterial pneumonia. However the misuse and overuse of antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance. If we continue to use them inappropriately, we’ll undermine our ability to treat patients with deadly infections and diseases,” he was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.
Professor Adeel Ajwad Butt, Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Department of Medicine and Director of the Clinical Epidemiology Research Unit at HMC, said that there had been a global increase in antibiotic resistance, which was compounded by limited number of new drugs being discovered.
“Antibiotics are an important tool in relieving symptoms of bacterial infections and can help patients recover faster. However, improper use can cause many different types of bacteria to become unresponsive to antibiotics. In recent years, resistance to antibiotics has become more common and many diseases cannot be treated as well as they could in the past,” said Professor Butt.
Patients can do their part to prevent antibiotic resistance by being cautious and only taking antibiotics when absolutely necessary and as directed by a physician. And if patients are prescribed an antibiotic, it is important to take the entire course.
True. Very true. When clinics see your shiny insurance card, they do make that prescription pretty generous. Btw, careful-with-antibiotics idea is coming pretty late to Qatar.
Anyways, if you do go on Antibiotics for 5 days or more, remember the following 1) Finish the course. Not finishing the full course(irrespective of the situation with your ailment) will do more harm than good in long term 2) Do discuss proton pump inhibitor for this duration (anti-biotic dependence can lead to GI issues at advanced age. PPI offsets this risk)
Unfortunately i experienced it, but there are a few exceptions. After four unsuccessful antibiotic treatment I have finally found Al Hayat Medical Center. I would highly recommend Dr Maria Colavita. I am treated with the utmost care and consideration. They really want what's best for her patients.
Few doctors do ask me which meds you want? as if i have not come for a check up but for purchasing meds as my favorite food. But then there are so best doctors, you must always keep marking which treats you in just 1 or 2 meds... and tats it.. m fit again.
Another area of concern is monthly scanning for preborn and blood tests for mother These doctors in private hospitals are born criminals.
Also, lots people demand antibiotics which aren't necessary as part of their treatment. On the other side, I've been prescribed antibiotics that I knew weren't necessary (and never filled or took) from doctors who are either incompetent or want to take the easy way out.
Same thing happens when I finally go to the doctor for a cough, first an unnecessary x-ray and then sugar syrup (which is garbage treating a cough from a cold ). As Brit says, they make money off it and especially if you have insurance
erm ... The reason is simple .. They make lots amd lots of money from it ...