Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a stark warning about a growing health threat that is rendering common medicines ineffective. In his recent address on 'Mann ki Baat', the Prime Minister focused on the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emphasizing its role in making standard treatments fail for infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The Silent Pandemic Claiming Lives
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when pathogens like bacteria evolve to survive the drugs designed to kill them. This leads to persistent, severe infections that are harder and more expensive to treat, often requiring extended hospital stays. An estimated 2.6 lakh deaths in India in 2021 were directly attributable to AMR, according to Global Burden of Diseases data. In total, 9.8 lakh deaths that year were linked to resistant infections.
Dr. Kamini Walia, head of ICMR’s Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network, describes AMR as a "silent pandemic." The most vulnerable groups—newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems—bear the highest burden. A 2015 study across ten Indian hospitals revealed that patients with multi-drug resistant infections faced nearly double the risk of death.
What You Can Do to Fight Resistance
Experts point to public behavior as a major driver of this crisis. Indiscriminate and excessive use of antibiotics forces pathogens to develop resistance. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR, advises the public against self-medication. "Antibiotics should be taken only on prescription from a registered medical practitioner," he stresses.
Key steps every individual must follow include:
- Never pop antibiotics for a common fever or cold without a doctor's diagnosis.
- Always complete the full course of treatment, even if you feel better.
- Never share your antibiotics with others or use old prescriptions.
- Avoid using expired antibiotic pills.
Challenges and The New National Action Plan 2.0
The problem is exacerbated by prescription practices. A survey by the National Centre for Disease Control found that nearly 75% of patients in tertiary care hospitals were prescribed antibiotics, with over half for prophylaxis rather than treatment—a discouraged practice.
To combat this multi-sectoral threat, the government has launched the National Action Plan on AMR 2.0, which will be in effect from 2025 to 2029. This plan aims to build on the first 2017 strategy, with key objectives including:
- Creating awareness and understanding of AMR.
- Strengthening laboratory capacity for nationwide surveillance.
- Reducing infection incidence through effective control measures.
- Optimising the use of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and the food chain.
The renewed plan seeks to address previous shortcomings, such as limited involvement from non-human health sectors like animal husbandry. As Prime Minister Modi highlighted, collective and mindful action is crucial to prevent a future where simple infections become untreatable.
