‘Use of antibiotics without prescription will be banned’: Veena George

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George said that all family health centres (FHCs) in the state will be converted to antibiotic smart family health centres this year. She also said that all panchayats will be made antibiotic literate panchayats by creating awareness against anti microbial resistance.

“The Kerala Anti microbial Resistance Surveillance Network (KARS NET) has been expanded to 40 hospitals. It will be expanded to more hospitals this year. It is intended to completely stop the use of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription in 2024,” said Veena. She announced that the Ozhalapathi Family Health Centre in Palakkad has become the second antibiotic smart hospital in the country.

Hospitals that achieve 10 goals as per guidelines to prevent the overuse of antibiotics are declared antibiotic smart hospitals..