The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare highlighted the urgent need for global collaboration to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during her intervention at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR. A press release on was issued September 27, 2024.
What is AMR?
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop the ability to resist the medications designed to kill them. This makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease spread. The resistant microbes are able to grow or multiply in the presence of drug that would normally kill them or limit their growth. Hence, AMR is a now recognized as a grave public health problem.
Discussions in the High-Level Meeting
Addressing the gathering, the minister stressed on the critical threat AMR poses to global public health, undermining decades of progress in modern medicine. She called for the integration of AMR containment strategies into various health programs, including pandemic preparedness, health system strengthening, and universal health coverage.
The minister highlighted India’s significant strides in combating AMR since the launch of its National Action Plan (NAP AMR) in 2017. India has expanded surveillance networks, reduced hospital-acquired infections, and promoted responsible antimicrobial use across human and animal health sectors.
Key achievements include:
- Strengthening infection prevention and control through comprehensive training of healthcare workers
- Improving sanitation, hygiene, and infection control in healthcare facilities
- Implementing a nationwide surveillance of healthcare-associated infections
- Enacting regulations to ensure prescription-based sales of antimicrobials
- Updating National Treatment Guidelines to promote judicious antimicrobial use
India’s Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Program, tailored for resource-limited settings, has been adopted by many hospitals to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. The updated NAP-AMR 2.0 prioritizes inter-sectoral collaboration, including budgeted action plans for each sector and well-defined monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The minister concluded by expressing India’s commitment to addressing the AMR challenge through national and global efforts. By working together, the international community can mitigate the risks posed by AMR and safeguard the future of public health worldwide.
