Buying medicines without a doctor’s prescription has become alarmingly common across Pakistan. Antibiotics, painkillers and other potent drugs are handed over pharmacy counters daily; no questions asked, no prescriptions checked. People no longer feel the need to consult a doctor when a quick search or a willing pharmacist seems just as accessible. The dangers of this trend are real and well-documented. Wrong doses silently damage the liver and kidneys and overusing antibiotics is breeding drug-resistant bacteria, making infections harder and, sometimes, even impossible to treat. What feels like a convenient shortcut today may trigger a serious medical emergency tomorrow.
Children and the elderly bear the heaviest burden of this negligence. Their bodies process medication differently, and an incorrect dose that causes mild discomfort in a young adult can prove fatal for a child or a senior citizen. These harms are entirely avoidable. Pharmacy regulations must be enforced without exception and selling prescription drugs over the counter must carry genuine consequences. Citizens must also understand that a pharmacist is not a substitute for a doctor.
Warda Aasim
Karachi
