Nagaland pharmacists warn against self-medication, antibiotic misuse and painkiller abuse, urging greater awareness and responsible medicine use
KOHIMA — Pharmacists and drug experts in Nagaland have stressed the dangers of self-medication and the indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics, as the state observed World Pharmacists Day in Kohima on Friday.
The Kohima District Pharmacists’ Union (KDPU) organised the event on the theme, ‘Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures’.
Ketholetuo Ciesotsu, Assistant Director (Pharmacy) of Health and Family Welfare, citing WHO data, said more than 50% of prescriptions worldwide are either wrongly prescribed or wrongly used. He attributed this, in part, to the lack of involvement of pharmacists in the prescription process.
He said thousands of people die in India every year due to medication errors, including wrong medicines, incorrect dosages and adverse drug reactions. Pharmacists, he said, could help prevent such errors if they were given the authority to audit prescriptions.
Ciesotsu also flagged the high incidence of antibiotic resistance in Nagaland, attributing it to the widespread misuse of antibiotics. He cited the use of azithromycin for common colds as an example of inappropriate antibiotic use.
“Without an empowered pharmacist, there can be no healthier future,” he said, stressing that a healthier future is not created only in big hospitals but also at primary and community health centres.
He urged pharmacists to take pride in their profession and described their roles as guardians of patient safety, drug experts, counsellors and a bridge between doctors and patients.
Imlilila, Assistant Drug Controller, Drugs Control Administration (DCA), said the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, along with a lack of awareness, were among the major factors contributing to the rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
According to Imlilila, pharmacists have an important role in addressing these concerns because they are among the most accessible healthcare professionals for patients and the general public. As medicine experts, she said, people often approach pharmacists for advice.
She stressed that pharmacists have a moral duty to educate people about the dangers of self-medication and the indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics.
“We Nagas are habitual offenders in this area. We treat ourselves on a trial-and-error basis and recommend a drug or medicine that seems to work for us to a friend or relative who suffers from similar symptoms. Such practices should be totally discouraged,” she said.
The officer further called on pharmacists to ensure the quality and safe use of medicines by making sure that the right medicine reaches the right patient, in the right dose, at the right time and with the right information.
She urged pharmacists to renew their commitment to the profession and keep their ultimate goal of helping people achieve better health at the centre of their work.
Thungchio Y Enny, Senior Pharmacist at DoHFW, urged pharmacists to uphold professional integrity and work collectively for the advancement of the profession.
KDPU Information Secretary Savizo Kezieo shared his aspirations of becoming a pharmacist and called on members to remain sincere in their work and contribute to uplifting the profession.