Progress in reducing the uncontrolled use of antibiotics

Lul Raka, microbiologist, simultaneously co-ordinator of co-operation with the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in an interview for Radio Free Europe said that uncontrolled use of antibiotics continues to be a disturbing phenomenon.

Kosovo, however, has noted progress in this direction, as from its eleventh country, it was seven years earlier, according to World Health Organisation data in the total consumption of antibiotics, has moved to nineteenth place.

Radio Free Europe: Antibiotics in Kosovo continue to be sold without the doctor's prescription. Should such a form of use of antibiotics be allowed?

Lulu Raka: No should be allowed since the sale of unprescripted antibiotics is also prohibited, but unfortunately, this practice continues in Kosovo, despite efforts that have been made but have resulted in unsuccessful. This is one of the main failures in addressing the use of antibiotics and resistance to antibiotics in Kosovo. With a greater political will and a more rigorous approach to pharmacists that would be settled very quickly. This is also one of the points and remarks that has been made in the European Union's progress report on Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo takes first place in Europe, when it comes to using cf-reaction injections. Why is the use of the antibiotic being misunderstood?

Lulu Raka: During this week it's a world of antibiotics awareness. Two days ago, recent data of antibiotics by the World Health Organization has been published on global antibiotics consumption. We've been collecting our data from 2011 to today. In 2011 in Europe we've been in 11th place in the total consumption of antibiotics with 26.2 per cent of the standard per capita consumption. The results of the two days ago proved to be a 30 - percent drop, so it has dropped to 20.8 percent of total antibiotics consumption.