Posted By :  Admin1

A recent study has revealed that almost 80 percent of people in Bhubaneswar choose to self-medicate rather than visit a doctor. The research, conducted between 2017 and 2020 and published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, found that 79.9 percent of participants admitted to taking medicines on their own. The most commonly used drugs included painkillers, antacids, and even antibiotics, raising concerns among medical experts about growing antibiotic resistance and negative side effects.

The report says many individuals prefer to buy medicines directly from pharmacies without prescriptions. Easy access to drugs, social-media health advice, and attempts to avoid consultation costs are major reasons for this behaviour. The study also found that younger people and those belonging to higher economic groups showed a higher tendency to self-medicate, and surprisingly, people with health insurance were more likely to avoid seeing doctors.

Health experts warn that this trend could create serious public-health problems in the future. They believe that strict punishment alone will not solve the issue. Instead, public-awareness programmes are needed to encourage people to seek proper medical guidance. With India’s national average of self-medication at about 54 percent, Bhubaneswar’s numbers highlight an urgent need for stronger awareness and regulation.