According to the data, 2.5 million people in our country are hospitalized every year due to improper medication, and 190,000 die as a result. In order to correctly guide consumers in purchasing and using medicine, more than 80,000 employees from over 20,000 pharmacies nationwide have participated in medication knowledge training.
A recent survey shows that among consumers buying medicine at pharmacies, only 30% possess correct knowledge about using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, while 70% of the public rely on experience when taking medicine.
Reporters learned yesterday from the World Self-Medication Conference being held in Beijing that after four months of training and competition, the "Smithki Cup" Pharmacy Employee Medication Knowledge Contest hosted by the China Non-Prescription Drug Association has come to an end. More than 80,000 employees from over 20,000 pharmacies across the country participated in this medication knowledge training. This was also the first large-scale "recharge" activity for pharmacy employees' medication knowledge in our country. The head of the China Non-Prescription Drug Association stated that pharmacy employees should shoulder the important responsibility of "gatekeeping" and eliminate safety hazards in public medication use.
Relevant experts from the China Non-Prescription Drug Association told reporters that with the popularization of the concept of "going to the hospital for serious illnesses and going to the pharmacy for minor illnesses," most urban residents choose to buy medicine at pharmacies for self-medication. However, due to the general lack of basic medical knowledge among consumers, many people do not know how to safely use OTC drugs, and there are serious safety hazards in public medication use.
A recent survey shows that among consumers buying medicine at pharmacies, only 30% possess correct knowledge about using OTC drugs, while the majority rely on experience; 4% of people cannot understand the drug instructions; nearly 20% choose medications based on advertisements rather than doctor's advice; when self-medicating, they only focus on the efficacy of the drug but ignore the treatment cycle; they have obvious deficiencies in understanding deeper issues such as drug resistance and timing of medication; in terms of medication habits, many people increase the dosage on their own to enhance efficacy, some have the habit of frequently changing medications, and others take tablets with tea, milk, or other beverages. All these indicate that current public medication behavior lacks safety guarantees. Statistics show that every year in our country, 2.5 million people are hospitalized due to improper medication, and 190,000 die as a result.
Consumers lack medication knowledge, and pharmaceutical and medical knowledge is relatively specialized, which has become a major obstacle to self-medication. Zhang Heyong, President of the China Non-Prescription Drug Association, emphasized: pharmacy "gatekeeping" is more important than "selling medicine." He suggested that pharmacy employees should act as "gatekeepers" for the public when buying medicine. When consumers come to buy medicine, they should be asked to present a formal prescription from a hospital and purchase medicine according to the prescription.
Experts from the Gynecological Center remind the general public that if you feel unwell, you should consult a doctor at the hospital instead of blindly self-medicating, to avoid causing harm to your body.
This article is excerpted from: Changchun Gynecological Hospital Official Website. Original address: http://www.tjfk999.com/meitibaodao/2010110623.html To learn more about gynecological diseases, please visit the official website of Changchun Gynecological Hospital.