EAST CHINA'S JIANGSU province is the first province to stop offering intravenous infusions of antibiotics to outpatients in public hospitals. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Tuesday:

Since July, Jiangsu has banned intravenous infusions of antibiotics in the outpatient departments of its public hospitals, which is very significant given that China administers the world's highest number of intravenous infusions of antibiotics each year.

This over-prescription of antibiotics has now led to many Chinese patients developing more antibiotic-resistant genes.

The awareness of the necessity for less antibiotic use has grown in many countries. In many Western hospitals, intravenous infusions, especially of antibiotics, are considered the same way as surgery and only administered when absolutely necessary.

In China, that awareness has only been slowly spreading.

It is usually patients that request infusions, as they believe it will cure them quicker. So if they are not allowed to get them at public hospitals, they will likely resort to community clinics.

Stopping the excessive administering of intravenous infusions of antibiotics requires enforcement of the so-called medication principles introduced by Ministry of Health.

A comprehensive system for intravenous infusions should be established, including supervision of implementation.

Jiangsu province has set a good example and other provinces and regions should be encouraged to reform their use of intravenous infusions of antibiotics in their outpatient departments.