Cyprus, that is facing a serious problem as regards the consumption of antibiotics, is now implementing a surveillance programme for antibiotics prescriptions in outpatient health care. The Health Ministry on Tuesday said in a written statement that, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Cyprus is among the European countries with the highest consumption of antibiotics and, as a result, among the countries with the highest rates in antimicrobial resistance. The Ministry's Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit, it said, recognising the seriousness of the problem, plans and implements actions, aimed at the rational use of antibiotics in medicine and tackling antimicrobial resistance. These actions, it said, include the development of a surveillance programme for antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient health care in collaboration with the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO). As part of this programme, a questionnaire has been introduced as of last week, which should be filled in by physicians when prescribing antibiotics through the national health scheme's (GeSY) electronic system. The Health Ministry said that its ultimate goal was to promote the prescription of antibiotics only when necessary, such as in cases of bacterial and not viral infections, but also the prescription of antibiotics that are suitable for patients' health condition. CNA/ELA/EAN/GV/2023
Source: Cyprus News Agency