THE rate of antimicrobial resistance, or endurance of bacteria from medication, has jumped to 90 percent on some drugs this year, leaving around 700,000 people worldwide dead due to defiant infections, the World Health Organization said over the weekend.
If this trend continues, the number of infection-related deaths could lead to over 10 million a year.
“If bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the drugs will no longer be effective for treatment. Infections can last longer or get out of control and, in the worst case, lead to premature death of the patient,” said Dr. Gundo Weiler, representative of WHO in the Philippines.
“For some bacteria, we already see resistance rates, which practically means some antibiotics are no longer effective for treatment,” he said.
Improper use of antibiotics is the main cause of drug resistance, for example, if patients are not given their doses at the right amount or at the right time.
“This mostly happens if antibiotics are not used strictly as prescribed by a physician,” Weiler explained.
The physician bared the data as the country celebrates this month the Generics Awareness Month which is geared toward ensuring the effectiveness and affordability of medicine in the country. Generics offer a lower cost of treatment compared to drugs manufactured by innovator brands.
“[It] produces the same therapeutic effects as more expensive drugs because it contains the same active ingredient,” Weiler said.
But even with generics, the physician lamented the “much higher” drug prices here compared to other countries of same standing, which could pose a “barrier to accessing health.”
“Consumers have the right to be informed and be given the choice to use generics,” Weiler asserted.
As to accessibility of medicines, WHO admitted that it is “still an issue” in the Philippines, emphasizing that half of the population have no regular access to essential drugs.
Weiler blamed this to high cost of medicines, geographical distance and isolation of some communities, and culture-based perception on drug quality and efficacy, which he said are shaped by pharmaceutical marketing and promotions.
However, he noted that there are also developments on accessibility and availability of drugs with the Generics Law on the scene.
“With the drive of the government for universal health coverage, there is much optimism that issues on access to medicines will soon be fully resolved,” he said.