Use of anti-biotic drugs is increasing in the country
The use of anti-biotic drugs is continuously increasing in India. However, this situation is worrying. The Union Health Minister has also expressed concern over the increasing trend. A global study conducted by AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad has revealed that India is facing a “superbug explosion”, and 83% of patients coming to hospitals here are already carrying drug-resistant bacteria.
The study, published in The Lancet during Antimicrobial Awareness Week, warns that the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India has reached a “critical juncture”. Doctors say that easy access to antibiotics, rampant sale of medicines without prescription in medical stores and rampant use of antibiotics in dairy, poultry and farming have further increased this crisis.
Indian patients more vulnerable: study
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites evolve to evade the drugs meant to kill them, making the infection difficult and sometimes impossible to treat. The global study found that Indian patients are more vulnerable, especially those with chronic lung disease, heart attack and frequent use of antibiotics.
During the global study, doctors examined 1,200 patients in hospitals in India, Italy, the US and the Netherlands. Of these, Indian patients had exceptionally high levels of resistant bacteria (83%). In this regard, doctors say that most of the identified bacteria do not respond to antibiotics as a last resort. In comparison, these bacteria were found only 31.5 percent in Italy, 20 percent in America and only 10.8 percent in the Netherlands.
AMR major health concern: JP Nadda
The Center is also concerned about the increasing use of anti-biotic drugs in the country. Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Tuesday that excessive use and misuse of anti-biotic drugs has unfortunately become common in the country, due to which antimicrobial resistance i.e. AMR has become a major health concern. He stressed the urgent need for corrective measures.
Launching the second edition of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025-29) in Delhi yesterday, Nadda said that this issue can be resolved only through collective efforts. “Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern that can only be addressed through collective action,” he said.
The Health Minister said that it started with the initial debate in the year 2010, after which the first NAP-AMR was launched in 2017. Highlighting the gravity of the challenge, he said AMR poses serious risks, especially during operations, cancer treatment and other critical health issues.
He says that excessive use and misuse of antibiotics has unfortunately become common in the country and it should be improved. He said that many important initiatives have been taken by many different ministries in this regard.
Noting that India is one of the countries leading this initiative globally, he said AMR is like an epidemic that is affecting many countries, especially developing countries in Asia and Africa.