PM stresses stopping antibiotics sale without prescription

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has laid stress on stopping antibiotics sale without physician's prescription.

She came up with the assertion as Director of Biology Department of Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research, Oxford University, United Kingdom, Professor Timothy E Walsh called on her on Sunday.

Prime Minister's Speech Writer Md. Nazrul Islam disclosed the PM’s stateement in a media briefing after the meeting at PM's official residence Ganabhaban in the city.

According to Nazrul Islam, the prime minister said necessary restrictions should be imposed to stop selling antibiotics without physician's prescription.

Urging the proper use of antibiotics, the prime minister said efforts are being made to ensure that antibiotics are not sold everywhere in Bangladesh.

Timothy E Walsh said that anti-microbial resistance (AMR) has become an epidemic in the world right now.

Noting that if it is not prevented now, he said it will take a more dire form in the future.

"It may cause millions of people's death," he feared.

Timothy E Walsh praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's role during her period as co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.

The Oxford University professor proposed to introduce Bangabandhu-IOI fellowship from Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research for Bangladeshi students to pave the way of conducting research in medical and basic sciences under the fellowship.

In response, the prime minister gave her consent, in-principle, to this fellowship.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and her personal physician Professor Dr. A B M Abdullah were present.