Lokman Hekim Health Foundation Says "Don't Use Medication Without Knowledge"

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı has launched an awareness campaign with the mission of protecting public health, warning society against unconscious medicine and antibiotic use, and conveying the message that doctors are the only reliable source.

"I Don't Recommend This Product"

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı, which collaborates with influencers active on social media who recommend thousands of products daily, aims to reverse social media's recommendation narrative for a good cause this time. Famous influencers are saying #wedonotrecommend! 

In our country, medicine and antibiotic use through friend recommendations, advice from acquaintances, and use of old medicines left at home for different patients or illnesses are so widespread that among OECD countries, Turkey ranks 3rd globally in daily antibiotic consumption! Unconscious and non-prescription antibiotic use not only fails to protect against diseases but also leaves the body more vulnerable, potentially causing side effects such as high fever, liver and kidney damage, difficulty breathing, skin rashes, fungal infections, and even death.

"Only doctors can give certain recommendations"

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı, which has signed many successful projects for both today's and tomorrow's doctors, is launching an awareness campaign with the mission of protecting public health, warning people against unconscious medicine and antibiotic use, and conveying the message that doctors are the only reliable source. The project titled "I Don't Recommend This Product" aims to change individual behaviors through digital media usage habits and create awareness across society. Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı, collaborating with influencers who encounter us daily on social media, recommending thousands of products from creams to phones, glasses to clothes, is reversing social media's recommendation narrative for a good cause this time. Popular influencers voluntarily supporting the project are now saying the opposite of what they always say, and by saying "I don't recommend this product," they provide a link. The link directs followers to the foundation's awareness page on its website. Social media users encountering the message "Only doctors can give certain recommendations" are thus informed about the side effects of unconscious medicine and antibiotic use.

The webpage, aiming to inform society about rational medicine use, emphasizes individual differences, using the right medicine at the right time and in the right manner, and the importance of the patient-doctor relationship. Social media users encountering the message at https://www.lokmanhekimsv.org/tavsiyeetmiyoruz-projesi/ also declare their commitment to this cause by checking a box at the end of the page that reads "I understand the importance of rational medicine use. I accept not to use medicine without consulting my doctor."

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı's "I Don't Recommend This Product" project, which was brought to life with K A R P A T (Independent Advertising Agency), aims to prevent constant demands for antibiotics from doctors and to raise awareness among all segments of society, including those who give their own antibiotics to those around them and those who accept antibiotics from others. Through a simple and eye-catching digital usage habit, it also aims to increase doctors' credibility in society by conveying the message that doctors are the sole authority on health matters.

Efforts underway to reach wider audiences

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı Board Chair Leyla Şeker says they are accelerating their efforts to reach wider audiences with the campaign while emphasizing that social media is a powerful tool in this regard: "In Turkey, 6 out of every 10 people use their medicines without consulting a doctor. While this situation creates serious health risks, it can also lead to prolonged treatment periods and worsening of diseases. Rational medicine use is vital not only for protecting individuals' health but also for lightening the burden on the health system."

Specialist Dr. Nil Sarıçiçek, Member of Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı Executive Board and Medical Director of the Future Doctors Programme, draws attention to the long-term effects of unnecessary antibiotic use on public health: "Unnecessary antibiotic use is a major problem in Turkey as it is throughout the world. This leads to bacteria developing resistance to medicines. Antibiotic resistance causes an increase in untreatable infections and rising health costs. To raise public awareness on this issue, we have partnered with K A R P A T Agency to launch a large-scale awareness campaign. We say that all medicines, especially antibiotics, should be used on doctor's advice and we warn once more: Do not put your health at risk!"

Dangers of Non-Prescription Medicine Use

Lokman Hekim Sağlık Vakfı lists the risks that unconscious medicine use can create as follows:

• Misdiagnosis and Ineffective Treatment: Non-prescription medicines can be used unnecessarily due to misdiagnosis, which can render treatment ineffective. For example, unnecessary antibiotic use for viral infections is a frequently encountered situation​
• Side Effects and Drug Interactions: Medicines used without medical supervision can interact with current treatment, causing serious side effects.
• Antibiotic Resistance: Unnecessary antibiotic use, commonly seen in Turkey, leads to bacteria developing resistance to medicines, making treatment of infections difficult and increasing health costs​.