Pakistanis prescribed twice the recommended medicines

A recent study has revealed that patients in Pakistan are being prescribed more than twice the number of medicines recommended under international standards, raising concerns over the widespread practice of unnecessary medication and excessive use of antibiotics and injections.

The study was conducted by experts from the Health Services Academy (HSA) in Islamabad. According to its findings, doctors in Pakistan prescribe an average of 4.2 medicines per prescription, compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended range of 1.6 to 1.8 medicines per prescription.

The research also highlighted significant variations among healthcare facilities. At a major hospital in Peshawar, an average of 10.56 medicines were prescribed per prescription, indicating a particularly high level of polypharmacy, in which patients are given multiple medicines at the same time.

The study further found that only 25 per cent of medicines in Pakistan are prescribed using their generic names. The WHO recommends prescribing medicines by their generic names to promote rational drug use and help reduce unnecessary costs for patients.

The excessive prescription of antibiotics was another major concern highlighted by the research. Antibiotics were included in 45 per cent of prescriptions in Pakistan, considerably higher than the WHO-recommended range of 20 to 26.8 per cent. Experts have repeatedly warned that unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making infections increasingly difficult to treat.

The study also found that more than 27 per cent of prescriptions included injectable medicines. In addition, only 72 per cent of the medicines prescribed were included in the National Essential Medicines List, raising further questions about the rational use of medicines across the country’s healthcare system.

Professor Shehzad said unnecessary prescribing was not limited to a particular level of healthcare and was found across the country, from primary healthcare centres to teaching hospitals. He noted that patients themselves often demand injections and antibiotics because they believe these treatments can help them recover more quickly.

According to Shehzad Ali, pharmaceutical companies’ marketing practices are among the factors contributing to the low use of generic medicines. He said guidelines for prescribing medicines already exist, but they are often not properly followed.

He stressed the need for effective measures to control the unnecessary use of medicines and antibiotics. The findings underline the importance of promoting rational prescribing practices, strengthening compliance with existing guidelines and creating greater awareness among both healthcare professionals and patients about the risks associated with unnecessary medication.