Concerns antibiotics are being prescribed to a large number of people who don't need them

The Public Health Communication Centre says we're one of the countries with the highest rates of antibiotic resistance -- which makes bacterial infections difficult to treat.

It's urging the Ministry of Health and College of Practitioners to set targets to reduce the unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics.

Auckland University's Mark Thomas says any and all use of the drugs, will contribute to antibiotic resistance.

He says a large part of the country's antibiotic use is to treat viral infections and it won't make a difference to the health outcomes.