TALOQAN CITY (SW) – Self-medication has been on the rise in Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province in Afghanistan, as well as in its remote districts.
Jalaluddin, a resident of Rustaq district in Takhar, says that the ability to purchase medication without a prescription at pharmacies is one of the main reasons for this rise in self-medication.
He adds, “I have often been advised by elders to use various medications, which led me to visit pharmacies and obtain medication without a prescription.”
Mohammad Qayum, another resident of Takhar, says that economic hardships have forced people to resort to self-medication when they fall ill. “If we go to a doctor for a consultation, the cost is too high. So, we visit pharmacies and buy medications at a much lower cost.”
According to the residents of Takhar, the practice of self-medication has sometimes led to other health issues, and even death.
Abdul Karim, a resident of Taloqan, says that he is now suffering from a health problem due to self-medication. “I have used over-the-counter medications several times to recover, and now I have developed Helicobacter pylori in my stomach as a result.”
Several pharmacists in Takhar report that the lack of professional staff in pharmacies has made it easier for residents to buy various types of medications without proper guidance.
Lotfullah, a pharmacist in Takhar, said, “In some pharmacies, unqualified individuals work, who have either semi-professional education or basic literacy, and they give out medications to people, which causes problems for the public.”
However, Ghulam Sarwar Rahmani, the head of general monitoring and inspection at the Takhar Public Health Directorate, says that they are closely monitoring pharmacies in the province and fighting the illegal sale of medications.
“In the past two months, we have inspected several pharmacies, wholesalers, and other health centers. Over 50 pharmacies and health centers were closed due to violations,” he added.
Previously, the Ministry of Public Health under the Islamic Emirate announced that self-medication leads to a decrease in the body’s resistance and reduces the effectiveness of medications against diseases.
