Latest news with #KeralaAntimicrobialResistanceStrategicActionPlan
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Kerala's initiatives to tackle antimicrobial resistance published in global journal
KOCHI: In a first, an international journal has published an article on the state's initiatives to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a dominant global health concern identified by the UN General Assembly and the World Health Organisation. The article — 'When policymakers have your back: The Kerala experience with statewide antimicrobial resistance mitigation efforts' — was featured in the Journal of the American Society for Healthcare Epidemiology, published by Cambridge University Press. Authored by Dr Aravind Reghukumar, serving with the department of infectious diseases at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, and nine other doctors, the article explains how the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan, Kerala Antibiotic Smart Hospital Initiative and the Kerala Antibiotic Literate Campaign helped tackle the AMR crisis. 'The article was published in an international journal as the subject is relevant. Even the UN General Assembly has discussed the issue twice in the past 20 years. In India, Kerala is the only state that has been implementing an AMR strategic action plan effectively,' Dr Aravind told TNIE. Political will and commitment are key to addressing the issue, he pointed out. Antimicrobial resistance is caused when antibiotics are overused, allowing bacteria to thrive, and develop the ability to resist the medication.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
KARSAP: 450 pharmacy licences suspended, five cancelled
Licences of 450 pharmacies have been suspended and that of five cancelled to prevent antibiotic misuse as part of strengthening the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP), Minister for Health Veena George has said. The Minister who presided over a meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) said the government directive to medical stores to not sell antibiotics without doctors' prescription had been almost fully implemented. The use of antibiotics had not only declined by 20-30% in the State, but it had also been ensured that those in use were comparatively less dangerous. The meeting decided to intensify tests to detect antibiotic residues in milk, meat, and fish. Directions were given to reduce antibiotic levels in cattle and poultry feed. Colour coding It was decided to introduce colour coding to make all hospitals in the State antibiotic smart hospitals. All hospitals should implement the coding in three months. Directions were also given to issue guidelines for local self-government institutions (LSGIs) as part of the antibiotic literacy. The LSGIs would be colour coded according to these guidelines. It was on this basis that they would have to prepare microplans to become antiobiotic smart. Antibiotics should be dispensed in blue covers to make their identification easier. All hospitals, medical stores, and pharmacies should implement this. Steps had also been taken to make more hospitals antibiotic smart. Activities would be strengthened in the private sector with the support of organisations such as Indian Medical Association, Association of Physicians of India, and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Antibiotic literate The Minister said the State was aiming at becoming antibiotic literate by December. She directed that the first district-level antibiogram in the country, brought out by Ernakulam, would be brought out in other districts too in phases. nPROUD (New Program for the Removal of Unused Drugs) launched in Kozhikode for collecting unused and expired drugs and disposing of them scientifically would be expanded across the State.
