Sat Nov 23 16:34:25 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka Health Minister Calls for Crackdown on Over-the-Counter Antibiotic Sales
**Bengaluru, November 23, 2024** – Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has urged drug control officers to strictly enforce regulations against the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics and other Schedule H drugs. Speaking at the All-India Drugs Control Officers’ Confederation (AIDCOC) silver jubilee celebrations, Minister Rao highlighted the urgent need to curb antibiotic misuse to combat rising drug-resistant infections.
The Minister emphasized the lack of focus by the pharmaceutical industry on developing new antibiotics, attributing it to a profit-driven approach. He stated that the government is exploring ways to incentivize research in this area and promote judicious antibiotic use among doctors. Using Kerala as a positive example, he noted the stricter enforcement and public vigilance contributing to the difficulty of obtaining medication over-the-counter there. He advocated for increased technology use in enforcement efforts.
The AIDCOC conference, themed “Protecting Public Health: Enhancing Patient Safety through Consumer-Centric Regulations,” brought together drug control officers from across India to discuss key issues within the pharmaceutical sector, including consumer safety, combating counterfeit drugs, and implementing innovative regulatory strategies.
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