The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana has issued a grave warning over the escalating misuse of antibiotics, a practice that is fueling antibiotic resistance and threatening the effectiveness of life-saving treatments. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, the Society’s President, sounded the alarm during a recent interview with Channel One TV, cautioning that this trend could push Ghana’s healthcare system into a crisis where common infections become increasingly difficult—and expensive—to treat.
Dr. Donkoh stressed the urgency of protecting the efficacy of existing antibiotics, stating, “When we get an infection, it is an antibiotic that we will have to use to manage the condition. If there is an abuse of these antimicrobials, resistance will continue to increase. Eventually, when you need them, they will fail you.”
The problem lies in the widespread and often unchecked use of antibiotics, particularly for illnesses that do not require them, such as the common cold and malaria. This misuse, largely driven by self-medication and inadequate regulation, is enabling bacteria to adapt, rendering antibiotics less effective over time.
One of the most concerning aspects of rising antibiotic resistance is the increased burden it places on healthcare costs and patient outcomes. According to Dr. Donkoh, resistance often necessitates the use of multiple antimicrobial agents to treat infections that a single antibiotic could once handle. “We have to combine two or more agents, which raises the cost and risk of side effects. This increased exposure to medications can also lead to higher mortality rates,” he explained.
For patients, this translates into longer hospital stays, higher medical bills, and more frequent complications from adverse drug reactions. For the healthcare system, it means strained resources and an urgent need for newer, more expensive antibiotics—a cost many developing countries can ill afford.
To combat this growing threat, Dr. Donkoh called on the public to act responsibly by avoiding self-medication and seeking professional medical advice before using antibiotics. He also urged policymakers to strengthen regulations surrounding the sale and distribution of antibiotics to curb their misuse.
“If we don’t take immediate steps to regulate antibiotic use and educate the public, we risk facing a future where minor infections become life-threatening,” Dr. Donkoh warned.
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Ghana’s situation is not unique. Antibiotic resistance is a global issue, with the World Health Organization (WHO) repeatedly highlighting it as one of the greatest threats to global health. However, in Ghana and across Africa, the impact is particularly severe due to limited access to alternative treatments and weaker healthcare infrastructures.
