[dcolkitt]

Actually, the medical system has probably on net contributed to antibiotic abuse. Yes, if antibiotics were OTC, people would use them more.

However for decades, doctors have universally instructed patients that they must finish the prescribed course. Even if the symptoms abate, patients are instructed to keep taking the dosage until done.

However this maxim was never supported by evidence[1]. Careful studies show that this approach leads to worse outcomes, because the patient's more likely to develop resistance on subsequent infections. And on average it leads to people taking two to three times more antibiotics than if they followed the intuitive approach of stopping when they feel better.

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/questions-over-advice-to-...