Policy Needed Against Antimicrobial Resistance

We have written this opinion piece after witnessing a troubling incident near a local pharmacy in Kathmandu. As we passed by, a young man in his 20s casually requested Azithromycin — a broad-spectrum antibiotic known for its long half-life — without a prescription. He said, “Brother, can you give me Azithromycin? I feel like I have tonsillitis.” Without hesitation, the pharmacist over-the-counter dispensed Azithromycin, treating it as casually as any ordinary household item. This seemingly routine exchange underscores a far more urgent public health crisis in Nepal: the unchecked antibiotic misuse and the escalating threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).