At the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), India has once again steadfastly committed to continue its fight against AMR, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Amid the assembly of international leaders, Anupriya Patel, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, underscored the urgent requirement to fully integrate AMR mitigation strategies into diverse health policies. Furthermore, Patel brought to the fore the global need for cooperation to tackle the emerging threat that AMR represents.
AMR is a pressing international health concern, as it negates the effects of modern medicinal advancements. AMR occurs when disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, develop resistance to medicines, rendering infections increasingly difficult or entirely impossible to treat. This escalates the risk of disease dissemination, intense sickness, and mortality. The incorporation of AMR containment strategies into different health initiatives, particularly those oriented towards pandemic readiness, health system fortification, and universal health coverage is a pressing necessity, Patel emphasized. Assigning resources more towards prevention and mitigation rather than solely surveillance is paramount.
In the course of the event, Patel also drew attention to India’s substantial progress in handling AMR since launching the National Action Plan (NAP AMR) in April 2017. Successes include the expansion of surveillance networks across human and animal sectors, reduction of hospital-related infections via enhanced infection prevention and control, and adoption of responsible antimicrobial use protocol in human and animal health domains. India’s sanitation, hygiene, and infection control in health institutions have markedly improved under its Clean India Mission, the minister added.
Furthermore, nationwide systematic surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) has commenced in the country, and regulations have been activated to ensure antimicrobials are sold based on prescriptions only. India has also established an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programme geared towards curbing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in a bid to address AMR.
Lastly, Patel stressed India’s undeterred commitment to addressing AMR and called for international collective action to mitigate the risks posed by AMR to protect future global public health. Concurrently, UNGA global leaders committed to a set of clear targets and actions, which include reducing the estimated 4.95 million human deaths associated annually with bacterial AMR by 10 per cent by 2030.