Thailand: Antibiotics spending to be halved

[webfact]

Antibiotics spending to be halved
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has set a target to reduce spending on prescription antibiotic drugs by half in the next two years as a result of an increase in drug resistance among patients and a higher cost burden on the government, the National Drugs Development Board said yesterday.

The reduction is in line with medical ethics associated with prescription drugs, greater care and concern for patients with specific diseases, a new standard of prescription and relevant database and the prevention of the overuse of antibiotics, said Professor Dr Udom Kachintorn, a senior board official.

Thailand spent Bt109 billion on antibiotics in 2007, Bt115 billion in 2008, Bt122 billion in 2009, Bt128 billion in 2010, and Bt134 billion in 2011.


-- The Nation 2014-05-23

[ChrisY1]

Would love to see a beakdown of exactly how these massive funds have been spent...........

[mickjn]

Great idea

[Trentham]

Over prescribing of antibiotics is a greater risk to Thailand than any coup could ever be. Trouble is big pharma will still make it worth the doctors while to continue to do so.

[samjaidee]

You need a prescription to get antibiotics from a pharmacy in Thailand?

Don't pharmacists hand out antibiotics like candy?

[Saan]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

[samjaidee]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

[jaltsc]

"...an increase in drug resistance among patients..."

A few years ago I saw a mother with a 3 year-old. Every time the child coughed, the mother would give her a spoonful of a liquid antibiotic. She told me that she had a few more bottles at home and would continue giving to her daughter until the cough stopped. She had no idea that she was destroying her child's natural immune system.

Of course there are times when antibiotics are necessary, but not for every little ailment. Don't be surprised when an antibiotic resistant strain of some illness appears and a large part of the population won't have an immune system to fight it. It won't matter whether you are wearing red or yellow.

[wirat69]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

You can't buy Viagara or Cialis over the counter!

[Seastallion]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

Actually, yes. I brought Tramadol with me from NZ for back pain. Old man next door had severe back pain, so I offered him one tablet to try (my Dr had said Tramadol is just one step up from paracetamol but way below morphine). The old guy had the most relaxed sleep he's had in months, so I gave him the empty pack to go and buy some for himself. Pharmacist would not sell it too him! Said it was too strong.

[Seastallion]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

You can't buy Viagara or Cialis over the counter!

The market stall counter you can. I've seen it many times.

[Seastallion]

"...an increase in drug resistance among patients..."

A few years ago I saw a mother with a 3 year-old. Every time the child coughed, the mother would give her a spoonful of a liquid antibiotic. She told me that she had a few more bottles at home and would continue giving to her daughter until the cough stopped. She had no idea that she was destroying her child's natural immune system.

Of course there are times when antibiotics are necessary, but not for every little ailment. Don't be surprised when an antibiotic resistant strain of some illness appears and a large part of the population won't have an immune system to fight it. It won't matter whether you are wearing red or yellow.

It's not the patient's immune system, it's the bacteria building resistance. It's the superbugs that will be behind the next epidemic. Don't think that because you have been frugal with antibiotic taking (as I have too) that you will be safe from the superbugs.

It's true that incorrect and inappropriate antibiotic taking promotes superbug evolution, but does not affect your system other than affecting the beneficial flora in your gut.

[belg]

tell that to the greedy doctors that get a % of what they prescribe...

they would give you antibiotics for HAIR PAIN ...

and it is not the cheap version you can find at the pharmacy at 100 baht per 20 pill. A few times when I needed to go to out-patient care, it was more like 2500 baht just for the antibiotics (could not find that brand in pharmacy)

profit on medication sold to farang = 300%

[ppmacready]

Would love to see a beakdown of exactly how these massive funds have been spent...........

Yachts, cars , villas and aeroplanes

Same as the money spent on education!.

[joshstiles]

Would love to see a beakdown of exactly how these massive funds have been spent...........

...oh believe me....they weren't spent....first they went deep into 'someone's' pocket

[joshstiles]

my last antibiotic from the hospital cost me 2000 baht....from my local pharmacy 120 b....same drug. Wonder who is getting all this money???? Don't think about it too long.

[kerrysum]

Over prescribing of antibiotics is a greater risk to Thailand than any coup could ever be. Trouble is big pharma will still make it worth the doctors while to continue to do so.

Amen Brother....

Kerry

Know the problem before you start the kaos......

[kerrysum]

"...an increase in drug resistance among patients..."

A few years ago I saw a mother with a 3 year-old. Every time the child coughed, the mother would give her a spoonful of a liquid antibiotic. She told me that she had a few more bottles at home and would continue giving to her daughter until the cough stopped. She had no idea that she was destroying her child's natural immune system.

Of course there are times when antibiotics are necessary, but not for every little ailment. Don't be surprised when an antibiotic resistant strain of some illness appears and a large part of the population won't have an immune system to fight it. It won't matter whether you are wearing red or yellow.

I think of it as don't OVER-MEDICATE.... After all we all do have a natural immune system...... I agree with you.... Geez. this stuff is getting crazy......

Many have the ideal that the answer is in the pill.... Pain? get a prescription, but never ask the questions of what is causing the problem? Remember one thing.... There always side effects of such things.......... I guess they call it Yah, so what is Yah-Bah? crazy drug, biggest problem in many countries that I see..... There is a better way........ What the hell, I could be wrong, but please prove it to me........

Kerry

[dinger]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

You can't buy Viagara or Cialis over the counter!

Does a little card table set up on Sukhumvit sidewalk count as over the counter

[joshstiles]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

You can't buy Viagara or Cialis over the counter!

Does a little card table set up on Sukhumvit sidewalk count as over the counter

yeah...that's where i get my Cialis....other wise my friend the pharmacist in 'un-named location' always sells me whatever I need.

[manzan]

"...an increase in drug resistance among patients..."

A few years ago I saw a mother with a 3 year-old. Every time the child coughed, the mother would give her a spoonful of a liquid antibiotic. She told me that she had a few more bottles at home and would continue giving to her daughter until the cough stopped. She had no idea that she was destroying her child's natural immune system.

Of course there are times when antibiotics are necessary, but not for every little ailment. Don't be surprised when an antibiotic resistant strain of some illness appears and a large part of the population won't have an immune system to fight it. It won't matter whether you are wearing red or yellow.

It's not the patient's immune system, it's the bacteria building resistance. It's the superbugs that will be behind the next epidemic. Don't think that because you have been frugal with antibiotic taking (as I have too) that you will be safe from the superbugs.

It's true that incorrect and inappropriate antibiotic taking promotes superbug evolution, but does not affect your system other than affecting the beneficial flora in your gut.

You are correct on the superbugs, which can evolve regardless of individual antibiotic use, btw, the overwhelming majority of antibiotics are being used on the livestock, superbugs will mostly evolve from the industrial farms and contaminate meat. be careful when handling raw meat, like putting it in a separate shopping bag and washing the cutting board properly before putting anything else on.

Repeatedly taking antibiotics does appear to have a negative effect on the immune system, i think it is mainly due to the affecting of the gut flora,as you already said. It's negative effects could maybe be prevented or reduced by taking probiotics after finishing the antibiotics, though the core problem remains that they are taken way to often. In Holland you really have to be in bad shape before you can get any antibiotics, here they take them for everything, it is just not good practice, they upset the balance of the body, acidify it, candida is often an issue afterwards as well.

[Seastallion]

my last antibiotic from the hospital cost me 2000 baht....from my local pharmacy 120 b....same drug. Wonder who is getting all this money???? Don't think about it too long.

I went to the doc's last week. Consultation,ears cleaned, paracetamol, antibiotics (Ciproxyl), and eardrops given by the clinic : 450 baht.

[FangFerang]

The government did not say they are reducing use, availability or or changing prescription procedures. They are reducing spending, which means this is an announcement that the consumer price of the drugs is going to increase. Nothing more.

I have two friends that recently caught viruses, and both came back from the hospital with 4-6 different pills, and both were given amoxycillin (an antibiotic) -- and which does nothing to a virus. The doctors are creating the problem as much as patients.

MRSA in the US came from hospitals, not houses.

[Thaiisnotrequired]

my last antibiotic from the hospital cost me 2000 baht....from my local pharmacy 120 b....same drug. Wonder who is getting all this money???? Don't think about it too long.

I went to the doc's last week. Consultation,ears cleaned, paracetamol, antibiotics (Ciproxyl), and eardrops given by the clinic : 450 baht.

I envy you. I just had deep-root canal treatment and then the tooth capped. Cost 17,000Bt, and I didn't even get 1 tablet.

[dinger]

tell that to the greedy doctors that get a % of what they prescribe...

they would give you antibiotics for HAIR PAIN ...

and it is not the cheap version you can find at the pharmacy at 100 baht per 20 pill. A few times when I needed to go to out-patient care, it was more like 2500 baht just for the antibiotics (could not find that brand in pharmacy)

profit on medication sold to farang = 300%

There is so much truth in this, no matter what you see the Dr. for you always come away with a sack full of pills and antibiotics are always included. I told my wife years ago to quit taking all of this stuff. But is ingrained in the culture, any time some one so much as sneezes they run for a pill

[Thaiisnotrequired]

"Thailand spent Bt109 billion on antibiotics in 2007, Bt115 billion in 2008, Bt122 billion in 2009, Bt128 billion in 2010, and Bt134 billion in 2011."

Interesting growth from 2007 onwards. I wonder if the years are of any significance, concerning such increased spending...

[CaptainS]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

Actually, yes. I brought Tramadol with me from NZ for back pain. Old man next door had severe back pain, so I offered him one tablet to try (my Dr had said Tramadol is just one step up from paracetamol but way below morphine). The old guy had the most relaxed sleep he's had in months, so I gave him the empty pack to go and buy some for himself. Pharmacist would not sell it too him! Said it was too strong.

Just try at another pharmacy (or two), many will sell if he can show an empty pack.

[Thai at Heart]

China has been issuing far too many inappropriate anti biotics for decades. It is a superbug factory.

At least though if th government decided to issue and edict like this it would be respected. In Thailand it is mere words.

[joshstiles]

Easy. Educate mothers that when little Somchai gets a cold it can't be cured by antibiotics. Then tell the doctors not bow to pressure when mere Somchai demands them for her little emperor.

Educate mothers? Good luck with that one. They can't educate children properly; how will they educate mothers?

I think the biggest problem is pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription. Is there anything you can't buy over the counter here?

"pharmacists giving prescription medicines without a prescription"....and thank god they do. If you spend the time and do the research on meds you can take for your ailment....why bother wasting your TIME and MONEY on thai doctors. I've gone to too many (lost count) thai doctors who gladly charge the foreigners 3 - 4 times the going rate for their bubblegum machine degreed service and the worthless medicine they give you is ridiculous. Now I do the research and go to my own pharmacist who understand the deficiencies in the thai medical practices. I save time, money, and heal myself. However, if you don't have the smarts....go waste your time, money, and give the medical professionals a good laugh as they gouge you time and time again.

[Jonmarleesco]

Better late than never, I suppose.