Kathmandu, March 13 -- The Department of Drug Administration has banned the sale of six reserved antibiotics in pharmacies, except those run by hospitals.

The move of the national drug regulatory body aims to prevent the irrational use of antibiotics in dispensaries mushrooming across the country.

"The reserved antibiotics, prohibited from being sold in pharmacies except those operated by hospitals, are meant to be used as a last resort or in the intensive care and for seriously ill patients admitted to hospitals," said Pramod KC, spokesperson at the department. "But pharmacies have been found selling these medicines to patients without a doctor's prescription, and even in the initial stages of illness."

The irrational use of antimicro...