Reference Article: Editorial | The Hindu – Overcoming resistance: On the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025–29)
UPSC Relevance:
– GS II (Health Policy, Governance, Centre–State Relations)
– GS III (Science & Tech, Biotechnology, Public Health, One Health, SDGs)
India has released the second iteration of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR), recognising that the first plan—though conceptually strong—achieved only limited on-ground progress. The move comes amid rising global alarm over drug-resistant infections and reflects New Delhi’s attempt to revitalise its AMR response.
Why AMR is a Critical Challenge for India
- WHO’s 2023 report shows 1 in 3 bacterial infections in India are antibiotic-resistant, compared to 1 in 6 globally.
- High resistance is seen in E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, rendering last-line antibiotics ineffective.
- Structural drivers of AMR include:
- Heavy infectious disease burden
- Misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics
- Over-the-counter drug access
- Gaps in diagnostics, sanitation and surveillance
- Antibiotic overuse in poultry, livestock, aquaculture and crop production
- Environmental contamination through sewage and pharma effluents
Implementation Gaps in the First NAP
- Expansion of surveillance networks and COVID-era laboratory strengthening were significant gains.
- The ban on Colistin as a livestock growth promoter was an important regulatory step.
- However:
- Weak Centre–State coordination
- Limited stewardship in private healthcare
- Minimal regulation of veterinary and agricultural antibiotic use
- Only a few States created AMR policies, and Kerala was the only successful model
- Outcome: rising AMR levels despite policy intention.
Why the Second NAP Matters
AMR is no longer only a medical crisis but:
- A developmental and economic threat
- A food systems and environmental challenge
- A national security and pandemic preparedness issue
Policy Priorities Going Forward
- Strengthen One Health integration across human, animal and environmental sectors
- Mandatory and standardised antibiotic stewardship programmes in hospitals
- Regulate pharmaceutical waste, farm antibiotics and aquaculture practices
- Improve surveillance coverage, especially in rural and Tier-II/III healthcare
- Expand public awareness on antibiotic misuse
- Incentivise R&D into new antimicrobials, diagnostics and vaccines
- Ensure binding State-level AMR action plans
What India Must Avoid
- Treating AMR as only a medical or regulatory problem
- Fragmented institutional responsibility
- Delayed data-sharing and weak enforcement
- Policy fatigue without measurable indicators
Way Forward
- Institutionalise AMR financing and dedicated budget lines
- Build partnerships with panchayats, veterinary systems, pharma and civil society
- Create accountability frameworks for hospitals, pharmacies and agricultural sectors
- Use digital health platforms for real-time AMR surveillance
Conclusion
India’s second NAP on AMR represents both urgency and opportunity. Success now depends not on drafting more policy, but on coordinated State implementation, One Health operationalisation, and political commitment. In a world where antibiotics are losing power faster than they are being replaced, this policy must deliver—because resistance will not wait.