The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has raised alarm over the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, which is largely driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in the country. This development, according to the society, poses a serious threat to public health as it undermines the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments, leading to more difficult and expensive medical conditions, higher mortality rates, and more severe side effects for patients.
Speaking to Citi News, Samuel Ekow Donkoh, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, emphasized that the rise of antibiotic resistance is not just a local issue but a global one, particularly as the research and development of new antibiotics remains limited.
Urgency of Protecting Existing Antibiotics
Donkoh pointed out that research into new antimicrobial agents has yielded minimal results, with new antibiotics either not being discovered or remaining too costly for widespread use. He stressed that this makes the safeguarding of existing antibiotics an urgent priority.
“When it comes to antimicrobial agents or antibiotics, to be more specific, we don’t have new ones coming out. R&D from big pharma or pharmaceutical companies are not yielding positive results for us. Even if we are to get new antibiotics to come out from the pipeline, they will be very, very costly. And therefore, there is a need for us to protect what we have. We need to safeguard the antibiotics we presently have,” he explained.
Impact of Animal Antibiotic Use
Donkoh also highlighted the contribution of antibiotics used in animal farming to antibiotic resistance. He explained that antibiotics administered to animals, particularly in the poultry and fish industries, contribute to cross-resistance. This occurs when antibiotics used in animals end up in human food products, indirectly exposing people to these drugs, which can promote resistance in humans as well.
As part of efforts to address this growing issue, Donkoh called on veterinary officers and the animal industry to adopt responsible practices in administering antibiotics.
Worsening Practices in Human Antibiotic Use
The PSGH president further noted that common harmful practices such as failing to complete prescribed treatments, sharing leftover antibiotics, and self-medicating with antibiotics for conditions like colds, coughs, and diarrhea, are exacerbating the problem. He pointed out that many Ghanaians mistakenly turn to antibiotics for illnesses that do not require them, thus accelerating the development of resistance.
“These five common conditions can be managed without antimicrobial agents, but Ghanaians just want to use antimicrobial agents and antibiotics when they have them. When they have flu or cold and it persists for a while, they think they need to get an antibiotic. When they don’t need it, when they have a cough, they think the best way to treat their cough is to put an antibiotic because it will help cure their condition very fast,” Donkoh said.
AMR Awareness Week and Call for Action
In recognition of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federation of International Pharmacies (FIP), has launched an initiative to raise awareness and promote responsible antibiotic use across the country.
The society is urging Ghanaians to adopt safer healthcare practices, such as completing prescribed treatments and avoiding the misuse of antibiotics for conditions that do not require them, as part of the effort to protect existing antibiotics and combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
The key message from the PSGH is clear: Protect the antibiotics we have, practice responsible usage, and reduce the unnecessary reliance on antimicrobial agents to safeguard public health for the future.
