Indonesian Doctors Criticized for ‘Alarming’ Use of Antibiotics
April 16, 2011
Related articles
Indonesia's National Health Scheme Untapped 9:53pm May 13, 2012
Concerns Fake Cancer Medicine on Indonesian Market 2:49pm Apr 21, 2012
Health Ministry, Minus Minister, Pushes On 10:34am Apr 20, 2012
Singapore Doctors Upset Peers in Indonesia 10:01am Apr 19, 2012
Power of Men Blamed for Death of Women in Labor in Indonesia 9:04am Apr 12, 2012
Post a comment
Please login to post comment
Comments
435815@Herbert, absolutely, many doctors fake their way into the specialist program by falsifying their toefl score. They paid more to any language course that is willing to do this for them.If they cut corner like this, we could expect that they will do the same thing when prescribing drug to their patients.They never improve their medical knowledge because they are barely able to understand English scientific journal or book. It seems to me that they gain their knowledge through rote learning method.
@Mohammad Gandhi, yes that's right. Many rich Indonesians prefer going to Singapore or advanced countries because they will get better treatment and service. We often hear the case of malpractice here.
Look carefully around your local hospital waiting room. There'll no doubt be a group of enthusiastic young (sales)men (with black bags) waiting to converge on a doctor or specialist with samples and details of their medical companies products.
Moreover if the doctor or specialist gains an overseas jaunt, the question is "who pays for this"?
Something the Jakarta Globe would do well to investigate!
Is it any wonder that Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have thriving medical tourism and Indonesia doesn't.
Yeah...yeah... Indonesian doctors are incompetent, why don't we allow expatriate doctors to practice in Indonesia?
yes every time iv'e been to the doctor they have prescribed antibiotics i only take them if after my own net research i believe they are warranted ie i have a bacterial infection.
The use of antibiotics has reached an alarming level in Indonesia, fueled by poor diagnosis, ignorance and poor regulation of drugs, experts say.
“Irrational use of drugs, including antibiotics, is a global problem, but sporadic surveys show that the use of antibiotics in Indonesia has reached an excessive level,” said Purnamawati, a pediatrician and founder of the Foundation for Concerned Parents.
The most recent survey, conducted by Purnamawati’s foundation in 17 Indonesian cities, revealed that antibiotics were prescribed in 78.4 percent of cases of respiratory and stomach illnesses in children in 2008 — against 54.5 percent in 2006.
Such conditions are generally caused by viruses that are not treated by antibiotics, Purnamawati said.
The survey also showed that on average five different brands of drugs, including antibiotics and antihistamines, were prescribed for every case of respiratory infection, with generic drugs accounting for less than a quarter of drugs prescribed.
“Polypharmacy [the use of more drugs than necessary] is rampant not only in Jakarta, but also in other cities,” Purnamawati told IRIN. “Apart from the financial cost, there’s an intangible cost when we are prescribed antibiotics when we don’t need them. It’s a very high price to pay.”
Misuse of medicines, particularly antibiotics, leaves patients with fewer options for treatment when bacteria become resistant, said the World Health Organization’s representative in Indonesia, Khanchit Limpakarnjanarat, at a recent seminar.
In Southeast Asia, misuse and poor access to other drugs continue to be major components of the widespread inappropriate use of antibiotics, according to WHO. A comprehensive study led by the WHO and government is under way.
Patients too often demand that doctors prescribe antibiotics because they believe the drugs will speed up recovery, said Hari Paraton, chairman of the Antimicrobial Resistance Control Programme at Dr Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya.
“The situation is the same across Indonesia,” he said. “Doctors, pharmacists and the public contribute to the problems.”
IRIN
- Indonesia ‘Most Tolerant Country in the World’: Religious Minister
- Tomy Winata to Build Jakarta's Tallest Building
- More Muslim Groups Demand Cancellation of Lady Gaga’s Jakarta Show
- Indonesia Wilts as Deforestation Moratorium Loopholes Go Unaddressed
- Lady Gaga Angers Thai Fans With Fake Rolex Comment
- Lady Gaga Refuses to Tone Down Her Shows: Manager
- Australia’s Corby Could Walk Free as Soon as Next Year
- Indonesia Set to Cap Bank Owners’ Stakes: Sources
- Singapore Cabby Jailed for Molesting Indonesian Maid
- President's Son Nearly Attacked by Angry Mob
-
3:06pm | More Muslim Groups Demand Canc...
agoz... Indonesia would be better off without you.... beside that the concert in Manila went successfully... in case you haven't noticed... -
2:57pm | Singapore Cabby Jailed for Mol...
joko... how many maids have died in Indonesia this year?? I will tell you that you wont be able to find a stat - why? because they never get -
2:55pm | More Muslim Groups Demand Canc...
hear hear Agoz! Stand up for free speech and expression. It's your democratic right. Use it or lose it. -
2:54pm | More Muslim Groups Demand Canc...
Agoz... how is gaga destructive ?? compared to say the average Dangut singer or better still the FPI?? more and more your radical vi -
2:52pm | If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Wa...
sore idiot minister. instead of defend aqeedah of ummah, you try to say a trash. leader is a shepherd that will be asked for their responsibility -
2:42pm | Singapore Cabby Jailed for Mol...
8 maids died from singapore apartement this year... a protection indeed not always happen I guest (statictically that is very high number, with onl -
2:42pm | More Muslim Groups Demand Canc...
Lady Gaga will bring nothing but trash show. indonesia will be better without satanic singer like her and her supporter. islamophobic always say ba -
2:12pm | Indonesia ‘Most Tolerant Count...
So Mr. Minister is this tolerant country going to allow the Gaga concert, stop allowing the murder of people that believe differently, and allow la
