China to train doctors to curb antibiotic abuse

Monday January 12, 2009 (1128 PST)

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BEIJING: China`s health authorities have launched a program to train up to 45,000 doctors nationwide in an effort to curb the abuse of antibiotics at public hospitals.

The two-year program was jointly launched Friday by the Health Ministry, the China Licensed Pharmacists` Association and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Experts from a committee on the rational use of drugs under the ministry would train health workers in medical facilities at or below county level across the country.

"The program will aim to step up the management of anti-bacteria medicine classification, slow the increase in drug-resistance, and ultimately realize the safe, effective and economic use of antibiotics," said ministry spokesman Zhao Minggang.

The irrational use of antibiotics was a major problem in China, in rural hospitals in particular, said Zhao.

"Abuse of antibiotics leads to extra medical spending of $ 11.7 billion across the country and about 30 percent patients take them as a panacea," he noted.

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