In a significant move to address the rising concerns of antibiotic misuse in India, the central government has implemented new regulations requiring doctors to provide ‘exact indications’ when prescribing antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, issued an ‘urgent appeal’ through three letters dated January 1 to medical professionals and pharmacist associations across the country.
The primary objective of this initiative is to combat the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which has become a global public health threat, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The misuse of antibiotics contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a phenomenon that renders antibiotics ineffective against bacteria, posing a severe threat to public health.
The DGHS has directed doctors to specify precise medical reasons or conditions for which antibiotics are prescribed, aiming to prevent their unnecessary use. The letters emphasize the crucial role of medical colleges in setting an example for judicious antibiotic use, highlighting that these institutions not only provide tertiary healthcare but also play a key role in educating the next generation of doctors.
The move also extends to pharmacist associations, urging them to dispense antibiotics strictly on the basis of a valid prescription from a qualified doctor. The DGHS has called for an end to over-the-counter sales of antibiotics to further regulate their distribution.
Antimicrobial resistance is cited as a major global health threat, responsible for an estimated 271 million deaths in 2019, with 4.95 million deaths attributed to drug-resistant infections. The letters underscore the potential risks associated with AMR, including prolonged illness, a higher risk of death, and increased treatment costs due to the need for second-line drugs.
The central government’s initiative stresses the importance of responsible antibiotic use in the absence of significant developments in new antibiotics. The letters emphasize that prudent antibiotic use is crucial in delaying the development of antibiotic resistance.
