They said the physicians should be cautious in prescribing antibiotics to their patients while the patients too should not take antibiotics inappropriately.

The seminar titled 'Use of antibiotics in infectious diseases: What we do and what should be done' was organised by Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd at a city hotel.

Speaking at the programme Vice- chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Prof MA Tahir said most of the times patients and their relatives get impatient and insist their doctors on early healing.

In those cases, some doctors give in and prescribe antibiotics and vitamins, he added.

Dr Tahir called upon the physicians to persuade the patients that every medicine takes a definite time to cure the disease and they should wait until that time expires.

Hailing Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies in taking life-saving drugs to people at affordable cost, he called upon the companies not to sacrifice quality under any circumstances.

Quoting a study, Prof FM Siddiqui of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital said children are most vulnerable to indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

In a keynote paper, he said if antibiotic is used indiscriminately then the body might develop some kind of resistance against that particular antibiotic.

Speaking at the programme Chief Operating Officer of Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd said their mission is to take the life-saving medicine to patients at minimum price.

He said they would soon market locally produced insulin, which Bangladesh still imports from other countries.

Prof AKM Rafique Uddin, Prof MA Faiz, Prof MA Kashem Khandaker, Prof HAM Nazmul Ahsan and Prof MA Azhar of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital also spoke.