UHC will curb ‘reckless’ use of antibiotics

When faced with acute health conditions, it’s common for most people to rush to the nearest pharmacy to buy medicine. The habit of taking over-the-counter medicines can be dangerous.

It exposes patients to a greater risk of taking inappropriate or harmful medicine. 

The ideal approach is that a patient should consult a professional medical practitioner who, based on the symptoms, makes a call for the right course of action to remedy the problem.

It has been reported that a huge part of a population’s out-of-pocket spending on health is directed to the purchase of over-the-counter medicines, mostly in private pharmacies, where regulation does not often meet required standards.

Drug-resistant pathogens

Thus, it’s no wonder that over-the-counter medicines, especially antibiotics are the most inappropriately used. This has been attributed to the leading cause of the anti-microbial resistance (AMR) throughout the world. 

In fact, there is a strong correlation between countries reporting high levels of out-of-pocket spending on medicine and those with alarming rates of AMR. A major challenge with AMR is that drug-resistant microbial pathogens spread to other countries, threatening global health security.

As the globe marks World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 18-24), with a goal to promote best practices to ensure correct use of antibiotics, there is a need for stakeholders to speed up efforts towards full attainment of universal health coverage (UHC). 

Right diagnosis

The key aim of UHC is to ensure that every citizen has a right to access a wide range of quality healthcare services without plunging into financial constraints when paying for them. 

Increasing public financing for health is one of the key drivers of UHC and one which will, to a large extent, reduce the level of out-of-pocket payments on medicines by members of the public. 

There is a tendency for people to avoid seeking services of professional health consultants due to high costs. 

Encouragingly, with implementation of UHC, people will be educated on and encouraged to seek consultancy services about their ailments, leading to right diagnosis and access to suitable medicines for their needs, at much affordable cost. This will, in turn, evidently see a decline in cases of AMR.

To achieve UHC, political will is vital. It’s impressive to note that the government has recognised that the health of its people is vital for the country’s development. This is reflected by the government’s commitment to single out UHC as part of the Big Four Agenda.