Pop pills at will: implications of self-medication

Abstract

Pop pills at will, i.e. self-prescribing medicines is becoming a severe menace in India. Self-medication is common and acceptable across all segments of society including paediatric self-medication. People find self-medication a time saving quick way of treatment and avoid visiting physicians with an aim of presumptive cost cutting. In a study, 57% of undergraduate medical students in West Bengal reported self-medication including antibiotics1. Antibiotics are easily available over the counter without any prescription2.