Drug Inspector as an antibiotic Steward: challenges and recommendations to implement national action plan of Pakistan on antimicrobial resistance

Background Despite significant measures, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, struggle to curtail non-prescription antibiotic sales, enforce regulations, and implement National Action Plan (NAP) against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). NAP Pakistan entails drug inspectors (DIs) to ensure prescription-based sales of antibiotics. This study seeks to understand the perspective of DIs regarding antimicrobial sales without prescription, underlying factors, and policy implementation status.