Both Dr Cheah TE and CH Ong have a point. In my experience, however, the root cause is public ignorance and the widespread dispensing of antibiotics from many other sources, both clinics and pharmacies (often without prescriptions). All these exist because of the mindset that antibiotics are needed for any illness.

My grandparents still think you must get a tetracyciline injection for flu, otherwise it will take too long to recover. Even when we are aware of the issue, we sometimes request antibiotics, "just in case".

Patient education is imperative. This should begin as a concerted educational and media campaign. Talking about suing doctors and other such rhetoric is not useful in the long run.