Strengthening India’s Battle Against Antimicrobial Resistance Through Surveillance and Public Awareness
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" address highlighted Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a major health concern. AMR occurs when bacteria and other pathogens evolve to resist antibiotics, often due to the "misuse and overuse" of drugs. India has established the National Action Plan on AMR and the NARS-Net surveillance system to monitor resistance trends. However, experts call for expanding surveillance to non-urban areas and private hospitals to get a representative national picture. A "One Health" approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health, is deemed essential to combat this "silent pandemic" effectively.
Key Points
- AMR is driven by the irrational use of antibiotics, including self-medication and over-the-counter purchases without prescriptions.
- India's NARS-Net provides data to the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
- The 2015 WHO Global Plan on AMR outlines five objectives, including awareness, surveillance, and optimizing antimicrobial use.
- Experts advocate for a 'One Health' approach to address the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Exam Facts
- NARS-Net (National AMR surveillance network)
- GLASS (Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System)
- 2015 WHO Global Plan on AMR
- ICMR dataset indicates antibiotics are becoming less effective against pneumonia and UTIs
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