BEIJING - Chinese health authorities on Tuesday demanded further efforts in forming a long-term mechanism against antibiotics overuse, which used to be common in many hospitals.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission gave the instruction while introducing this year's plan for promoting the reasonable use of antibiotics and containing the rise of bacterial resistance, a national initiative launched in 2011.

Local authorities are urged to consolidate their achievements in this regard and continue to improve the scientific levels of antibiotic drug use at hospitals by targeting mechanism loopholes, the commission said.

Use of antibiotics by patients beyond or without doctors' prescriptions is still a phenomenon in China, which not only results in an unnecessary economic burden but also harms people's health by causing bacterial resistance, the commission added.