Free Antibiotics May Contribute to Drug Resistance, Officials Say
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more from Health:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/health/policy/05drugs.html
Pharmacies around the country are offering free antibiotics to cash-strapped consumers, but public health officials say the incentives send the wrong message and could worsen the problem of drug resistance.Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out letters to several pharmacies urging them to promote responsible use of antibiotics to their customers. Currently, several pharmacies including Giant Food Stores, Stop & Shop, Wegmans Food Markets, Publix, Meijer and ShopRite are offering free antibiotics to customers who have a prescription from their doctor.
“We don’t want to discourage companies from providing low-cost medications to their consumers,” said Dr. Lauri Hicks, medical director for the C.D.C.’s “Get Smart Program,” which offers educational materials about appropriate antibiotic use. “If a patient believes that they can get an antibiotic quite easily or for free, then it may increase the pressure on health care providers to prescribe it.”
The generic antibiotics included in the free programs are relatively inexpensive compared to other drugs, in part because they typically are used for limited periods and are not refilled. Pharmacies have adopted the programs to promote customer loyalty and compete for the business of major retailers like Wal-Mart.
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- groups:
- Health
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- tags:
- Health, Antibiotics, Drug Resistance
