Lao officials warn about overuse of antibiotics

It is estimated that 90 percent of private hospitals and medical clinics in Laos give too much antibiotics to their patients because they lack training in prescribing antibiotics. However this carries many risks.

Director General of the Health Care Department under the Ministry of Health, Associate Prof. Dr Chanphomma Vongsamphanh spoke at the opening ceremony of Antibiotic Awareness Week on 10 November.

Prof. Dr Chanphomma noted that there is an estimated 480,000 new multi-drug resistant tuberculoses cases around the world annually, with extensive drug resistance to these diseases prevalent in over 84 countries as of 2013.

Keep reading