Experts call for united front against antimicrobial resistance
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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
India Contributes to London resolution addressing antimicrobial resistance
New Delhi: At the Annual Convention of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) held in London on July 18, 56 National Medical Associations came together to adopt the London Resolution on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2025. Among the leading contributors to this global initiative was India, which played a central role in shaping the resolution through the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The resolution is intended to portray coordinated international effort to address the rising threat of AMR, often referred to as the "silent pandemic." It aims to curb antibiotic misuse and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship across member nations. The document was jointly released by Prof. (Dr.) J. A. Jayalal, President of the CMA, and MP Seema Malhotra, UK's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship. Dr. Jayalal underscored AMR as a pressing public health challenge with far-reaching consequences, noting the need for collective action to protect vulnerable populations and safeguard future generations. India's contribution was reflected in both policy drafting and practical implementation models. The IMA's AMR SMART Hospital Model—which integrates infection control, education, and stewardship practices—was cited as a best-practice example for replication across Commonwealth countries. The resolution outlines 14 key commitments, including the appointment of AMR focal points in each country, formation of national AMR committees, integration of AMR education into medical training, and hosting annual AMR-focused sessions at medical conferences. It also emphasizes a One Health approach, addressing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in combating resistance. one of the feature of the resolution is the proposed CMA Fellowship in AMR , designed to support the development of experts in antimicrobial stewardship. It is stated that the fellowship will focus on training early- and mid-career health professionals to lead AMR-related research, policy, and implementation strategies. The CMA will work with member associations to roll out the resolution's roadmap, promote knowledge exchange, and track progress annually.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- The Hindu
Study alleging widespread antibiotic contamination in Indian rivers based on assumptions: Govt
A recent study alleging widespread antibiotic contamination in Indian rivers is based on "simulations and assumptions" and therefore, no conclusion on the issue can be drawn from it, the government has said. Replying to a question by Congress MP Pramod Tiwari in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said the study has cited its "own limitations of data availability". Study findings The study, conducted by researchers from McGill University, alleged that 80 per cent of the total length of rivers in India could be posing environmental and health risks due to antibiotic pollution. The media report, published on April 24, 2025, is based on a study titled 'Antibiotics in the global river system arising from human consumption' conducted by researchers from McGill University, Canada, and its "findings are based on simulations and assumptions", the minister said in a written reply. Furthermore, the minister informed that the government has not conducted any study on antibiotic contamination of rivers. Regarding the steps taken to regulate pharmaceutical waste and strengthen pollution control, Singh informed that the government launched the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) in April 2017 to develop and implement strategic interventions to reduce the environmental impact of antimicrobial resistance through effective waste management and safe disposal of expired antimicrobials. He mentioned that the environment ministry issued a notification for the bulk drug and pharmaceutical industry in August 2021, classifying chemical and biological sludge or any residue generated from wastewater treatment as hazardous waste. These shall be managed in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with the Hazardous Waste and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, Singh added. He highlighted that state pollution control boards have been empowered to prescribe additional relevant parameters and monitoring frequencies based on local conditions. The expired antimicrobials are disposed of by manufacturers or suppliers through incineration as per the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, while sludge from effluent treatment plants is sent to common biomedical or hazardous waste treatment facilities for incineration or safe disposal. "To reduce antibiotic residue from effluent sources, industries are adopting reduce, recycle and reuse of treated effluent to maximise the extent of Zero Liquid Discharge to minimise the risk of pharmaceutical compound residues," the minister said.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
We Have a Policy, But No Progress: Dr. Raman on India's AMR Surveillance Gaps
New Delhi: As India's National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) approaches a decade since its launch, top public health voices are sounding an alarm: the country remains dangerously underprepared to tackle the growing threat of superbugs . Speaking at an ETHealthworld webinar titled 'Running Out of Cures: A Deep Dive into India's Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis,' Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), offered a blunt assessment. 'The moment you say it's almost 10 years old, have we made a major difference? Perhaps not,' said Dr. Gangakhedkar. 'We have a national AMR policy in place—and that's probably the only thing we've managed well. Implementation is still weak, surveillance is fragmented, and both clinician education and community awareness remain at a primitive stage.' One of the fundamental pillars of combating AMR is surveillance, which, Dr. Gangakhedkar noted, remains in disarray. He pointed out that the first AMR surveillance system was initiated by ICMR, involving around 20 tertiary-care hospitals—primarily private and urban-based. 'Did it provide a generalizable framework? No,' he said. 'These hospitals had infrastructure and willing clinicians, but this cannot represent the national picture. Surveillance needs to span all levels—from primary health centers to tertiary hospitals and even into communities.' He emphasized that relying solely on tertiary-care data limits prevention efforts. 'Unless surveillance is done across the board, action will always remain delayed and narrow in scope.' One of the most dire consequences of unchecked AMR is drug-resistant sepsis , now among India's leading infectious killers. Yet, there has been no public health emergency response. Why? 'We lack generalizable data on AMR's real-world impact,' explained Dr. Gangakhedkar. 'We only see occasional headlines. Communities don't demand action. Hospitals don't elevate it as a crisis. Every death due to AMR remains an anecdote, not a call for change.' He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was a missed opportunity. 'We created infectious disease (ID) blocks, procured ventilators, and set up RT-PCR labs across districts. But we didn't use that momentum to build an AMR-focused health infrastructure. We let it pass.' One of the most striking challenges, according to Dr. Gangakhedkar, is the lack of community-driven advocacy. 'With TB or HIV, patients can unite, demand services, lobby for policy. But who speaks for sepsis deaths? Who demands accountability for AMR-linked fatalities? Families are often too overwhelmed, and there is no platform for collective action.' He stressed that every citizen, every caregiver, has a role to play. 'Each person leaving a clinic should ask: Was I prescribed an antibiotic? Was it necessary? That level of awareness can trigger systemic shifts.' Dr. Gangakhedkar also underscored the urgent need for a One Health approach . 'You cannot tackle AMR in isolation—veterinary practices, poultry farms, environmental factors, and human health are all interconnected,' he said. 'You can't say the veterinary sector should be left alone. Coordinated efforts across all sectors are non-negotiable.' 'To me, more than successes, we have a long to-do list ahead. The time to act is now—before we truly run out of cures," he concluded.
