Action Needed to Avoid the End of Modern Medicine

Martin Khor is Executive Director of the South Centre, a think tank for developing countries, based in Geneva.

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world, threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases

Unregulated sales of antibiotics are contributing to growing resistance. Credit: Adil Siddiqi/IPS

PENANG, Malaysia, Dec 5 2017 (IPS) – The next time you have a bad cold and reach for the antibiotics left over from your last visit to the doctor, think again.

Firstly, the antibiotics won’t work as they only act against bacteria while the cold is caused by a virus.

Secondly, you will be con…