Medicine: Stop Wasteful Prescribing Habits

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) views with apprehension

the Health Ministry’s strategy in tackling the problem of

over-prescription, rather than the underlying cause, by calling on the

public to return unused or expired medications at selected government

medical centres and hospitals. The rationale is to protect the

environment against indiscriminate disposal of expired medications and

save government cost from the reuse of unopened medications in good

condition.The common medications returned were those used to treat

cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, anti-hypertensive agents and

anti-cholesterol drugs.

Patients are often prescribed medications they don’t need or in greater

doses than required. This has become a norm in government and

private hospitals here.

Patients are given a host of medications, pushing up their medical bills

per visit. We see those without cough prescribed cough mixtures, those

without fever getting paracetamol, and lotions or creams are thrown in

as well.

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