General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The doctor's office just told me that they were not allowed to call in [View all]grasswire
(50,130 posts)A rx is not necessary for antibiotics in 28 European countries. But most people DO use a script anyway. Fewer than ten percent of the antibiotic prescriptions in those countries are purchased without a prescription. So the common claim that open access to antibiotics will wreak havoc on a country's health is not supported.
The important thing is that each citizen has the choice to obtain a prescription for antibiotic. This means that marginalized people who for one reason or another can not or will not see a physician can obtain advice on their own and treat themselves.
The monopolistic franchise arranged between the government and the medical community forces every citizen to seek an appointment to get a needed (and sometimes life-saving) med. It's an artificial construct. And the arguments against open access to antibiotics are not supported by evidence -- they are simply fearmongering.