Did you ever notice a red line on some medicine strips and packets? Do you know why these lines are designed on the medicine wrapper? No, it is not for decoration purposes. You might wonder why am I giving so much importance to just a line. The line may seem to be a minor detail of the medicine strip but holds a big message about the medication inside the packet.
Awareness By Ministry Of Health
To raise awareness about this red line, the Ministry of Health on Sunday in a tweet emphasised the importance of paying attention to a small but specific detail on the back label of the packed or strip of medicines to ensure safe intake of medication.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Ministry of Health posted a picture and wrote a caption, “You can prevent antibiotic resistance! A RED LINE on the strip of medicines implies that the medicine should not be consumed without a doctor's prescription.”
You can prevent antibiotic resistance!
A RED LINE on the strip of medicines implies that the medicine should not be consumed without a doctor's prescription.#SwasthaBharat #AntibioticResistance pic.twitter.com/zo7SooaiN9
Through this post, the Ministry of Health promoted healthy India by raising awareness. The ministry informed that these medicines can only be dispensed by pharmacies when a valid medical prescription is provided.
The image posted by the Ministry of Health read, “Do you know medicines with a RED LINE on the strip should never be consumed without a doctor's prescription. Medicines such as antibiotics have a red line on their pack to indicate that these should be consumed only on doctor’s advice. Always complete the full course as prescribed by the doctor.
The Red Line Campaign
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had launched a campaign called the Red Line Campaign to raise awareness for Antimicrobials resistance, urging people not to consume the medicines with red line on the packaging without a doctor’s prescription.
This campaign was started to reduce self-medication. Self-medication can be risky as well as life-threatening.
Also read: 5 Types Of Medicines Available For Treating Abortive Migraine
Self-Medication
When people use medicines to treat themselves for self-diagnosed conditions or symptoms, they are said to self-medicate. Self-medication might save you a trip to the doctor but at the same time can lead to many health hazards you might be unaware of.
To understand more about the harmful effects of self medication, OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Dr Pankaj Singhai, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru.
According to Dr Singhai, self-medication can lead to incorrect self-diagnosis. Individuals may or may not have necessary expertise to accurately diagnose their condition which can lead to delay in seeking proper medical advice because of which the condition of the person might worsen.
In some cases, medicating yourself without doctor’s advice or prescription can lead to severe reactions. It can lead to dangerous drug interactions that could be harmful for your health.
Also read: QR Codes To Indicate Genuineness Of Medicines Coming Soon
Bottomline
Being aware about medication is essential as incorrect medication might lead to adverse effects you may not know. It is advisable to not self-diagnose yourself and take doctor’s advice and prescription if you are suffering from any condition. Follow government guidelines for your own safety and good health.
(Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is advised please visit your doctor if you have any medical conditions.)