Health Minister Zahid Malik today directed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to work for controlling use of antibiotics in different farms.

He also asked them to take steps so that pharmacies cannot sell antibiotics without doctors’ prescription.

The directives that given to the officials at the fourth day of DC conference came at a time when antibiotics have been found in various food items including milk.

Minister Malik said antibiotics used in different poultry, fishing and dairy farms ultimately enter into human body through foods. It creates scope for developing “antibiotics resistance.”

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“We asked them [DCs] to be cautious about it and visit different farms so that it [use of antibiotics] can be controlled,” he told reporters after the meeting.

As per the common practice across the world and according to the country’s drug policy, antibiotics should only be sold following prescriptions, but many pharmacies do not follow it.

“We asked them to take steps so that pharmacies can’t sell antibiotics without prescription,” he added.

The minister also asked the DCs to visit district and upazila hospitals regularly and check attendance of doctors along with cleanliness and other issues of the hospitals.

Stating that cancer and heart diseases witness sharp increase and food adulteration and environmental pollution are two of the main reasons behind, the minister asked them to work for preventing food adulteration and environmental pollution.

He said the government would set up a cancer and kidney hospital in each divisional headquarters and the initiative has seen big progress so far.

The five-day conference of the deputy commissioners began on July 13 and will end tomorrow at the secretariat in capital Dhaka.