Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stark warning to the nation on Sunday, highlighting the escalating and grave threat of antibiotic resistance. During his monthly radio broadcast, 'Mann Ki Baat', he urged citizens to immediately stop consuming antibiotics without proper medical consultation, stressing that these are not ordinary medicines to be taken casually.
The Alarming Data Behind the Warning
The Prime Minister based his urgent appeal on a recent, concerning report from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The report reveals a dangerous trend where common antibiotics are failing to work against everyday infections. Pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the ailments becoming harder to treat due to this growing resistance. Modi stated that this trend is something that should worry every single Indian.
He identified the root cause as the rampant and indiscriminate use of these powerful drugs. The Prime Minister specifically warned against the pervasive and dangerous belief that "one pill can cure everything." This mindset, he explained, is ironically making infections more powerful than the very medicines created to defeat them.
A Call for National Discipline and Awareness
Appealing for public restraint, PM Modi strongly advised people to avoid self-medication, especially with antibiotics. He emphasized the critical need to consult a doctor before taking such medication. "Responsible use," he said, "is essential not only for individual health but also to preserve the effectiveness of life-saving drugs for society at large."
He underscored that greater public awareness and strict discipline in medicine consumption are vital to reversing this hazardous trend. Following professional medical advice, he assured, is the key to better health outcomes for individuals and the community.
Experts Echo the PM's Grave Concern
Health experts have consistently raised the alarm, stating that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is fast becoming one of India's most severe public health challenges. The ICMR has repeatedly flagged irrational antibiotic use, frequently without prescriptions, as a primary driver accelerating resistance. This raises the terrifying prospect that routine infections could become untreatable in the near future.
Adding a critical clinical perspective, Dr. Hitender Gautam, Professor in the Department of Microbiology at AIIMS, stated that AMR is now one of the most pressing global health threats of the 21st century. He outlined the dire consequences: indiscriminate antibiotic use delays proper treatment, escalates healthcare costs, and forces doctors to resort to stronger, higher-end drugs with more severe side-effects. This cascade increases the risk of serious illness, morbidity, and mortality.
Often termed a "silent pandemic," AMR demands urgent and coordinated action, Dr. Gautam stressed. He cited grim projections, warning that without effective preventive measures, AMR could become one of the leading causes of death worldwide by 2050.
