May 27, 2010
The Question
What measures should be taken to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use?
What we found
A mix of price and non-price measures tailored to particular cultural and medical contexts are needed. Without compelling economic incentives education and regulation may be largely ineffective. Incentives need to be put in place to lower antibiotics demand and to promote R&D and resistance control by pharmaceuticals.
Why it matters
Antibiotic resistance is, at least in part, a consequence of missing economic incentives. Individuals fail to see the externality of antibiotics use, the cost imposed by their use or misuse on the rest of society.
