On Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) – Don’t ignore the threat of antimicrobial resistance

Source: The post on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is based on the article “Don’t ignore the threat of antimicrobial resistance” published in The Indian Express on 6^th November 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Governance – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

News: The article discusses the global commitment to fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) during India’s G20 presidency, highlighting the need for research, prevention, and equitable access to treatments. It emphasizes the necessity of global and local actions, including stronger surveillance, responsible antibiotic use, and international collaboration.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Antimicrobials are agents intended to kill or inhibit the growth of microbes. They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents and parasiticides.

AMR occurs when microbes such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi become resistant to antimicrobial treatments to which they were previously susceptible.

Superbugs are strains of micro-organisms that are resistant to most of the medications.

For more details on AMR read here

What are the implications of AMR?

High Mortality: AMR is currently linked to approximately 4.95 million associated deaths annually.

Health Threat: AMR jeopardizes the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer care, and transplant success due to increased difficulty in treating resistant infections.

What initiatives have been taken to address AMR?

National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2017-21): It highlighted the importance of sanitation initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which can indirectly reduce the need for antibiotics by preventing infections.

The National Health Policy 2017: It provides specific guidelines for the prudent use of antibiotics, including restrictions on over-the-counter sales and limitations on antibiotic usage in livestock, aiming to control the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.

Adoption of the Muscat Manifesto: Manifesto stressing the need for enhanced political commitment to implement One Health actions to control AMR.
India pledged to decrease antimicrobial usage in agriculture by up to 50% by 2030 and to stop using medically important antimicrobials in animals and food production.

Reporting to WHO GLASS: India is strengthening the engagement of its private sector in reporting antimicrobial use and resistance to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).

For more details on India’s initiatives to address AMR, read here

What is the Delhi Declaration, and how will it be helpful in tackling AMR?

The Delhi Declaration is an agreement by countries during India’s G20 presidency focusing on strengthening health systems to fight health challenges like AMR.

It would be helpful in tackling AMR through:

Combating AMR with a Unified Approach: The Declaration commits to the One Health approach and enhancing pandemic preparedness, crucial for tackling the complex issue of AMR.

Prioritizing AMR: The Declaration seeks to reduce the estimated 4.95 million deaths associated with AMR, akin to diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Supporting Low-Income Countries: It aims to provide equitable access to medical resources, essential for countries with higher AMR death rates, like those in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Implementing National Action Plans: The Declaration encourages the adoption and implementation of National Action Plans, drawing from India’s efforts like the NAP-AMR for research and surveillance.

International Collaboration and Funding: It proposes an international funding mechanism for AMR research and development and promotes patent reforms to make treatments more affordable.

What should be done to combat AMR?

Reform Antibiotic Patents: Discuss patent reforms to enhance innovation while maintaining new antibiotics’ affordability, looking at models like the Medicines Patent Pool.

Engage Academia and CSOs: Involve academic institutions and civil organizations in research, education, and policy advocacy for AMR containment.

Support Global Health Infrastructure: Pledge support for equitable access to medical resources in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, recognizing the shared risk AMR poses.

Educate the Public: Increase awareness of the risks associated with the overuse of antibiotics.

Question for practice:

What strategies does the Delhi Declaration outline to combat the issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?