Battling Antimicrobial Resistance: India's Collective Action Plan

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health challenge exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics. India's Health Minister J P Nadda launched NAP-AMR 2.0 to address this issue through collective action. The plan includes increasing awareness, enhancing laboratory capacity, and fostering private sector engagement to combat AMR effectively.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday highlighted the growing public health concern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), attributing its rise to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Speaking at the launch of the second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025-29), he underscored the urgent need for collective action to tackle the issue.

Nadda detailed the progress made since the first action plan in 2017 and emphasized that without intervention, AMR poses a significant threat, particularly to surgical procedures, cancer treatments, and critical healthcare interventions. The updated plan aims to address previous gaps by enhancing coordination and sector engagement.

Alongside awareness campaigns, the plan focuses on strengthening laboratory capabilities and infection control. Principal Scientific Adviser Dr. A K Sood declared the initiative timely, especially during the WHO's World AMR Awareness Week, and noted India's leadership in confronting AMR, with states like Kerala and Gujarat pioneering measures like restrictions on antibiotic sales.

(With inputs from agencies.)