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ISLAMABAD: A 72 -year -old female patient with diabetes, hypertension, asthma, chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism and Parkinson Woos, in a shocking incident of medical abuse, are handed over to a prescription, including the same treatment.
This prescription, which has been released by a senior internal medicine expert in Islamabad, included anti -platelets, anti -hypertensives, thyroid supplements, calcium and vitamin D preparations, proton pumps, ceditic, anti -cystic and kidney powders. This creates serious moral concerns on irrational prescription patterns, which are potentially encouraging financial privileges rather than welfare of patients. This is not an isolated matter. In -depth examination of psychologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, and orthopedic experts from Islamabad shows a disturbing pattern of polyfrmoccinators, which includes a list of lining of pharmaceuticals, often contradictory or contradictory.
One psychologist suggested nine different medicines, including several seditu and anti -depressant, including over -liping effects, a young female patient with anxiety and sleep problems. Another example, a cardiologist has suggested four cardiovascular medicines with supplements and pain -inferior, some of which were not medically justified for the patient’s profile.
Many prescriptions also revealed the simultaneous use of two or more medicines from the same classes, such as two different proton pumps, alprazolam and zolipidium, or vitamin D preparations, which are against rational pharmacological methods, and the effects of diarrhea, and the effects of drugs.
Patients, from many low to medium -income backgrounds, pay consultation fees from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 in private clinics to run with prescriptions, which costs Rs 10,000 to 20,000 monthly, often without any explanation or consultation. This is not only a burden on the patient’s financial affairs, but also a serious threat to their safety and welfare.
Healthcare professionals and internal people blamed the pharmaceutical nexus of the alliance, where pharmaceutical companies allegedly encourage doctors to promote their branded medicines with foreign travel, gifts, cash payments and sponsorship. In return, doctors write long prescriptions, which often contain unnecessary medicines, which only meet sales goals.
Dr. Faisal Sultan, a renowned public health expert and former Federal Health Minister, acknowledged the attraction of the problem, but cautioned against the knee shock regulatory response. “Yes, this is a problem, but then when our officials take notice, if it sometimes reaches and restrictions are removed with unannounced results,” he said. According to Dr. Sultan, there is no magical solution but there is a combination of small steps. “Education, reminders, a little inquiry, a little pushback that works.”
He advised that patients should contest the prescription, the PMDC wants to submit written complaints with evidence. And ask questions. “Often people with chronic and many situations will have long lists of justification,” he said. “Everyone suffering from hypertension can have two or three medicines with justification. Add diabetes, hyperuracemia and increases. It is difficult. Not easy.”
Dr. Sultan, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, also shared the practical steps taken at SKMCH and RC to tackle the risk. “First, pharmaceuticals are not allowed to meet our doctors. Secondly, we use the prescriptions. Third, we have a pharmacy over every item for antibiotics, a pharmacy review of the food and drug interaction, it has a complete stress program.” He also advocated the introduction of a standard prescription with a column for clinical indicators with each drug, and also warned patients to warn about the risks of polyphere and potential drug interaction.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, officials of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Commission (PMDC) acknowledged that patients across Pakistan were burdened with unnecessary manuscripts, diagnostic tests and even procedures. “Many of them do not need, but they are being done as usual,” said an official. Although he advised patients to approach provincial health care commissions and Islamabad Health Care Regulatory Authority, he also acknowledged that complaints could be filed with PMDC in extreme cases. However, they were in a hurry to admit that the problem has deep roots. “This is a moral problem, and unfortunately, morality is not being properly taught at the undergraduate level in our medical colleges,” said an official. He also called for large -scale education to empower patients to question the unlawful prescriptions.
