The Government is being urged to act to reduce the over prescription of antibiotics.
Photo: AFP
New research from the University of Auckland shows the consumption of antibiotics has gone up 6 percent each year for the last seven years.
Associate professor in infectious diseases Dr Mark Thomas said this meant means people are growing resistant toTP them.
He said district health boards should have to report annual rates of antibiotic prescriptions in their area and the Ministry of Health should set targets to reduce their consumption.
Dr Thomas said prescriptions are often given to treat coughs and colds caused by viruses, which antibiotics do nothing for.
