To avoid testing at hospitals, people resort to self-medication in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 20: Even as there is a general global consensus that Omicron variant is far more infectious than the earlier Covid variants, around 95 percent positive patients in J&K have reportedly  no or mild symptoms.

However, what is worrying the medical experts in J&K is that most people with confirmed Covid or perceived Covid are resorting to self medication, which, according to doctors, can prove dangerous for health and wellbeing of the infected people.

Several experts and doctors were quoted by news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that people having any symptoms avoid visiting hospitals at this stage as they fear being tested before entering hospitals. As a result they prefer to go to chemist shops and resort to self medication., they say.

Medical experts also believe that the Covid positivity rate currently is very high but around 90 percent of the positive patients are in home isolation and, without consulting doctors, most of them are resorting to self-medication.

“There are thousands of people who have flu-like symptoms. In order to avoid getting tested at hospitals they prefer to go to local chemist shops and take antibiotics of their own”, they maintain.

Dr Salim Khan, HOD, Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar told KNO that self-medication was wrong and people are unnecessarily taking antibiotics, which can prove dangerous.

“Self-medication can lead to drug addiction, allergy, habituation, worsening of ailment, incorrect diagnosis and dosage, or even disability and premature death. This is the reason why people must avoid self-medication at all cost,” he said.

He added that concerned agencies must take cognizance of the issue and pharmacists and chemists must also avoid giving medicines to people without a doctor’s prescription.

Another doctor at  JVC Bemina, Dr Irfan Robanni Principal told KNO that self-medication could have consequences and that the best thing to do in these circumstances is to isolate yourself whenever you have symptoms and following of COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) in letter and spirit.

—(KNO)