China will curb the misuse of antibiotics, mainly at large hospitals, to deal with rising drug resistance, said the Ministry of Health on April 11.

By the end of this year, rates of antibiotics use among inpatients and outpatients on the Chinese mainland are expected to be lowered from 70 percent and 50 percent to around 50 percent and 20 percent, which is in line with international standards.

"The long-time overuse is related to factors including medical workers' lack of self-discipline and the current system whereby hospitals rely on drug sales for revenue," said Zhao Minggang, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Administration of the ministry.