Superbugs are spreading as India faces gaps in drug supply, access to treatment

India Today

5 days ago

While antibiotics are being overused in some places, leading to the rise of deadly superbugs, in other parts of the world, people are dying because they can't access these life-saving drugs at all.A study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, was led by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), a non-profit that works to improve access to antibiotics, looked at nearly 1.5 million cases of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) bacteria across eight low- and middle-income countries, including India, Brazil, and South Africa.advertisementCRGN bacteria are dangerous because they are resistant to "last-line" antibiotics. These are medicines that are used when all others fail.
Yet, the study found that only 6.9% of patients in these countries received the right treatment.INDIA CARRIES THE HEAVIEST BURDENIndia had the largest number of cases among all countries studied. It also procured 80% of the full antibiotic courses examined. But despite this, only 7.8% of people with CRGN infections received the proper treatment.This points to a gap between drug supply and actual access to treatment.A full course of antibiotics means the complete number of doses a patient must take to fully fight off an infection.
The study found that only 6.9% of patients in 8 countries, including India, received the right treatment. ()
advertisementMissing out on even a part of this treatment makes it less effective and more dangerous in the long run.These drug-resistant bacteria are commonly found in water, food, the environment, and even in our own bodies. They can cause serious infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, and food poisoning.Newborn babies, elderly people, and hospital patients are especially at risk, particularly those in intensive care units (ICUs).CRGN infections are tough to treat because the bacteria no longer responds to some of the most powerful antibiotics we have. This is where the crisis deepens: in places where these infections are rising, the drugs needed to treat them are either missing or too expensive.THE ACCESS CRISISFor years, the focus has been on the overuse of antibiotics.According to Dr. Jennifer Cohn, GARDP's Global Access Director, the reality is that many people in low- and middle-income countries with deadly drug-resistant infections are "dying because they can't get the antibiotics they need," she was quoted by BBC.The study looked at eight different intravenous antibiotics that are active against these resistant bacteria.
Bacterial infections are tough to treat because the bacteriano longer responds to some of the most powerful antibiotics we have. ()
Tigecycline, one of the drugs in the study, was the most widely used. But even then, only about 1 lakh full courses were available across all eight countries, far fewer than the 1.5 million people who needed them.WHY ARE PATIENTS MISSING OUT?As per the study, there are many reasons why patients don't receive the right treatment.This could be because they aren't reaching the right hospital or clinic, not getting an accurate diagnosis, not able to access the correct antibiotics or there's a high cost of newer drugs.Many of these antibiotics are simply too expensive for the average patient in countries like India. Without better policies, price regulation, and access programs, millions will continue to suffer or die needlessly.SMARTER POLICIESThe experts said that two things are needed urgently: stronger rules to prevent misuse of antibiotics and better systems to make them affordable and available to those who truly need them.But access alone isn't enough. The world is also facing a shrinking pipeline of new antibiotics.advertisementWith fewer companies investing in antibiotic research, the options for treating future infections are limited.India has one of the highest burdens of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the world. But researchers say the country also holds great potential to lead the global fight against drug-resistant infections.
India has one of the highest burdens of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the world. ()
India's strong pharmaceutical sector is already leading efforts in antibiotic innovation. From developing new drugs to improving diagnostics, the country has a head start.Experts suggest that India can further improve by gathering local data. This would help identify what's needed, where the gaps are, and how to fix them. Some states are already trying new models.For instance, Kerala is using a "hub-and-spoke" system where smaller clinics get support from larger hospitals in treating complex infections.Another solution is pooled procurement, where hospitals or states buy drugs together in bulk, reducing costs. This has worked for cancer medicines and could be tried for antibiotics too.In the end, the battle against superbugs is not just about using antibiotics wisely, it's also about making sure they're within everyone's reach.Trending Reel