Concerns with current Drug Laws regarding the purchasing antibiotics without a prescription in Pakistan; ways forward to assist the national action plan

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat due to its continued impact on morbidity, mortality, and costs [1,2]. This requires a multi-pronged approach to reduce current inappropriate use, with a key strategy being the implementation of national action plans (NAPs) to reduce AMR following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative [3]. The WHO AMR manual for developing NAPs includes the mapping of stakeholders, conducting a situational analysis as well as developing strategic objectives to develop the NAP for their country [3]. Pakistan is no exception with the development of its NAP to reduce AMR [4]. However, there are challenges with implementing NAPs across countries, including Pakistan, exacerbated by the lack of available resources including personnel and available funds [1,4]. In addition, the continued purchasing of antibiotics without a prescription remains a key challenge [5].