No pharmacies will be allowed to sell antibiotics without prescriptions of physicians and if they do so, their liscenses will be revoked, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday (October 4).

“The government is going to enact a new law to prevent misuse of antibiotics and if any pharmacy is found involved in selling antibiotics without prescription then its liscenses will be revoked,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Terming antibiotics a silent killer, he said every year, 15 lakh people die in the world due to excessive consumption of antibiotics and Bangladesh is also seeing its negative effects.

Taking antibiotics without prescription of physician has created negative impacts on public health, said the minister.

Besides, the presence of antibiotics was found in fish and meat as well which is also a matter of concern, he added.

He also stressed the need creating public awareness about the excessive use of antibiotics.