Doctor Urges Public to Avoid Self-Medication and Get Regular Health Check-Ups

A specialist in internal medicine from the Hasri Ainun Habibie Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Gorontalo Province, Mohammad Sofyan Kasim, has urged the public to routinely check their health and avoid consuming medicines carelessly. This step is important to prevent various disease risks.

Mohammad Sofyan Kasim stated that regular health examinations are key to detecting diseases early so they can be treated promptly. According to him, the public does not need to wait until they experience severe complaints to get themselves checked.

"As much as possible, the public should frequently consult at health service facilities, such as community health centres or hospitals," Sofyan said.

He explained that this disease prevention effort is part of a promotive and preventive approach that the public needs to implement in maintaining overall health.

In addition to encouraging routine check-ups, Sofyan also specifically reminded the public not to buy and consume medicines without instructions from a doctor or competent health worker.

According to him, the careless use of medicines, especially for the long term, has great potential to cause detrimental effects on the health of the body’s organs.

"Do not buy your own medicine at a stall, let alone use long-term medications such as anti-pain drugs that are not in accordance with the rules or instructions from a doctor," he stressed.

He hopes that public awareness of the importance of utilising health facilities for consultation and checking health conditions can continue to increase.

For information, RSUD Hasri Ainun Habibie serves various internal medicine cases, ranging from hypertension, kidney disorders, liver disease, heart disorders, endocrine abnormalities, to infectious diseases referred from first-level health facilities.