A doctor's prescription will be required to buy antibiotics from the start of next month. The directive is part of a nationwide campaign that was launched Thursday by the State Food and Drug Administration.

The campaign aims to reduce the negative impacts of excessive and inappropriate use of medications.

"Such usage has become a key threat to Chinese people's health," said Zheng Xiaoyu, director of the administration.

Nearly 2.5 million Chinese are hospitalized annually due to adverse reactions to medicines. About 200,000 people die each year from taking the wrong drugs, and some 80,000 of them die of antibiotics abuse.

Ten of the country's 15 best-selling medicines are antibiotics. While more than 50 percent of the medical expenses for Chinese inpatients goes to various kinds of antibiotics, the figure in Western countries is just 15 to 30 percent.

The side effects of antibiotics use can damage organs, cause disorders in the body's normal bacteria and increase the resistance of disease-causing germs.

Many Chinese believe the myth that antibiotics can diminish inflammation, so they use them to treat everything from toothache to fever.

"Antibiotics are vital for some patients, but indiscriminate use will make bacterium resistant to them," said Li Jiatai, a therapist at Peking University. "Bacteria are just like human beings. They are life forms and have very strong adaptability skills."

Zheng said: "Education is important in improving public awareness, but the administration will also tighten control on the sale and use of drugs, which is key to safer drug use."

The administration is creating regulations on the administration of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

(China.org.cn, China Daily June 4, 2004)