Stop popping pills, Public Health warns
Thais consume 128 million medicine tablets each day on average, according to the Department of Medical Services (DMS).
“Such a huge amount is worrying because the residue from medicines can accumulate in bodies and harm people’s health,” Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday.
He said his ministry planned to seriously promote regular exercise and good choice of food as a means to maintain good health in the 2013 Fiscal Year, which will start from October 1.“Then, we should be able to reduce Thais’ dependence on medicines,” he said.
Witthaya also went as far as instructing authorities to introduce incentives for people who agreed to give up medicines that they might not really need.
“For example, people may be allowed to trade in their unused medicines for eggs and bowls. Such incentives have already been implemented in some provinces,” the public health minister said.
DMS deputy director-general Dr Praphon Tangsrikiatkul said annual medicine consumption in Thailand jumped to Bt98.375 billion in 2008, up from Bt36.506 in 2000.
“The ratio of imported medicines has also risen from 46.06 per cent to 65.54 per cent over the same period,” he said.
He said one-third of the people had used the medicines based on their own judgement, advertisements or advice given by friends or relatives.
“About two-thirds used the medicines based on advice from medical workers such as doctors or pharmacists,” Praphon said.
He said antibiotics were the most popular medicines, accounting for about 18 to 20 per cent of sold medicines. “In some cases, the antibiotics are taken unnecessarily. For example, there is no need to use antibiotics for flu caused by virus,” he said.
Praphon also warned consumers against adjusting the dosages themselves, using the medicines prescribed to someone else, failing to pay attention to pharmacist’s explanation about how to use the medicines, to take the medicines on time, and to check the expiry date of medicines.
“Improper storage of medicines can also affect the efficiency of medicines. Consumers must pay attention to that,” Praphon said.
