DDA issues directive not to use 103 antibiotic drugs

KATHMANDU, Sep 18: The government has issued a directive to the consumers and stakeholders against using 103 types of antibiotics. 

Director General of the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) Narayan Prasad Dhakal said the directive has been issued to minimize, prevent and control the use of antibiotic drugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also not recommended the use of these drugs. Dhakal said there is no rationality in using these antibiotics. "The WHO has published a list of 103 types of antibiotics which should not be used. We will neither register these drugs nor give permission for using them," he added.

According to him, however, 13 types among the 103 antibiotic drugs have been registered. 

The DDA said it has prepared a national plan of action to reduce the rate of illness, death rate and the economic consequences resulting from resistance to antibiotics, which is in synchrony with the global action plan on antibiotic resistance. The plan is said to be in the final stages of approval.

Dhakal, the DDA Director General, said directives have been issued to the concerned agencies not to register, renew the registration and import as well as use these antibiotics. This directive, he said, is issued in line with the recommendation of the Drugs Advisory Committee.