Medicine for a minor cough, cold or wound is now killing you! Reason – Superbug. These are those bacteria on which common antibiotics do not work. This means that those people who have taken unnecessary antibiotics for minor diseases, the medicines stop working on them.
What is the new study?
A new study by Lancet magazine made a shocking revelation – 83% of patients coming to hospitals in India already have drug-resistant bacteria in their bodies. That means the medicine fails even before the treatment starts! Every year lakhs of people are dying due to this reason. Now the government has“The Next National Health Emergency” Considering that a 5-year mega plan has been launched – National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0 (2025-2029)Union Health Minister JP Nadda himself launched it, What will change for the common man, how expensive will the treatment be?
What is superbug and why is it getting out of control in India?,
Superbugs means bacteria that defeat antibiotics. Even the medicine prescribed by the doctor does not affect them. In the latest Lancet study (November 2025), AIG Hospital, Hyderabad examined patients from 9 countries – multi-drug resistant bacteria were found in 83% of patients in India, which is the highest in the world. India at number one! Reasons – taking medicines without doctor’s advice, arbitrarily selling antibiotics by shopkeepers, weak infection control in hospitals and excessive use of medicines in animal husbandry.
What else was scary in the Lancet study?,
- Nearly 1 million deaths every year in India are linked to antibiotic resistance.
- 58,000 deaths among newborns due to resistant infections alone.
- Common diseases like pneumonia, urine infection, wound infection are now becoming fatal.
- The study says – if things continue like this, there could be 1 crore deaths every year by 2050.
5 New plan for the year NAP-AMR 2.0 What is,
The first plan came in 2017, now the second version will run till 2025-2029. Headlines:
- One Health Approach – taking humans, animals, environment together.
- Strict rules for private hospitals.
- AMR surveillance network in every state.
- Training to doctors-chemists – Do not give antibiotics unnecessarily.
- Awareness Campaign – “Eat the medicine whole, do not take it arbitrarily”.
- Research on new medicines and efforts to make vaccines. Health Minister JP Nadda said – “This is the biggest threat after Covid, now we will fight it considering it as a national emergency.”
Dr. Naresh Kumar, Pulmonary Head of Lok Nayak Hospital, Take the medicine for the number of days prescribed by the doctor. Do not take medicines on your own. Take antibiotics only when needed and that too only if the doctor tells you to. Doctors should also understand that antibiotics should not be given for a long time. Follow Doctor Anti Biogram. Antibiotics should be prescribed for diseases only according to a set guideline.
How expensive will the common man’s treatment cost?,
Treatment of superbugs becomes 2-3 times more expensive:
- Treatment of common infections used to cost Rs 5-10 thousand, now it can cost Rs 50 thousand to Rs 5 lakh.
- One has to stay in hospital for a long time and undergo expensive injections.
- According to a study, the cost of resistant infection is double that of normal.
- Poor families are ruined – sometimes there is no treatment left. If the plan is successful then treatment will become cheaper and easier in 5 years.
Why did this become a new threat to India?,
- We consume the most antibiotics in the world.
- Medicines are available in shops without prescription.
- Less hand wash and cleanliness in hospitals.
- Too much medicine is used in raising poultry and fish and it gets into our food. The government is calling it a “silent pandemic” because it is killing slowly, but not as fast as Covid.
What effect will it have on your home?,
- Even a small illness can become a big expense.
- Doctors will no longer prescribe antibiotics easily – they will first conduct tests.
- Will ask for prescription at the medicine shop.
- Good thing – awareness will keep the coming generations safe. If the plan is successful, millions of lives can be saved by 2030.