Govt moves against anti-microbial resistance, a killer

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : The Union health ministry is working on a national plan to combat anti-microbial resistance (AMR) that is becoming a public health threat, a government official aware of the matter said. The ministry has formed a high-level committee to develop a National Action Plan Anti-Microbial Resistance 2.0 (NAP AMR), the official said on condition of anonymity. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses and fungi become immune to medication over time, making it harder to treat ailments.

Both humans and animals can develop AMR. “Addressing AMR in the context of food safety requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that encompasses responsible antimicrobial use, good agricultural and manufacturing practices, surveillance systems, research and innovation, and international cooperation," the official cited above said. The committee, called the Inter-Sectoral Coordination Committee on AMR (ISCC-AMR), includes officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), ministries of animal husbandry and fisheries, food processing, forest and climate change and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to create the action plan.

Queries sent to a health ministry spokesperson remained answered. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization, said AMR has increased in the last 2-3 years of the covid pandemic due to widespread and irrational use of antibiotics. “During every covid wave, there was always a tendency to use antibiotics, even though we know that antibiotics do not work on viral infections," she said.