Brief Context
Context Recently, the Union Health Minister launched the second version of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) (2025–29). About NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–29) It addresses gaps from NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021), including strengthening surveillance, expanding public awareness, enhancing private-sector engagement, and improving regulatory and laboratory capacity. It adopts a strong One Health approach, involving coordination across human health, animal health, agriculture, food syste
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Syllabus: GS2/Issues Related To Health
Context
- Recently, the Union Health Minister launched the second version of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) (2025–29).
About NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–29)
- It addresses gaps from NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021), including strengthening surveillance, expanding public awareness, enhancing private-sector engagement, and improving regulatory and laboratory capacity.
- It adopts a strong One Health approach, involving coordination across human health, animal health, agriculture, food systems, and the environment.
- It involves over 20 ministries with clear timelines and dedicated budgets.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
- Antimicrobials (including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics) are used to treat infections in humans, animals, and plants.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when pathogens no longer respond to Antimicrobials, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, illness, disability, and death.
- It is a natural process which is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants.
AMR’s Burden
- Globally, AMR contributed to 4.95 million deaths in the world in 2019 and it is expected to reach 10 million deaths by 2050.
- In India, there were 297,000 deaths attributable to AMR in 2019, and it is expected to reach 2million deaths by 2050.
- A Lancet report added that more than 80% of Indian patients carry multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), the highest globally.
Challenges Associated with AMR
- High antibiotic misuse in humans, livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
- Easy ‘Over The Counter (OTC)’ availability of antibiotics despite regulations.
- Weak laboratory networks for microbiological testing and surveillance in many states.
- Low prescription audits and poor implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in smaller hospitals.
- Environmental contamination due to pharmaceutical effluents and hospital waste containing antimicrobial residues.
- Limited public awareness, especially in rural areas.
- Fragmented inter-ministerial coordination, despite the One Health framework.
Related Efforts & Steps
- 2010: National Task Force on AMR Containment constituted.
- 2011: National Policy on AMR Containment released.
- 2017: First National Action Plan on AMR (2017–21) launched, aligned with WHO’s Global Action Plan (GAP).
- Red Line Campaign: Prescription-only antibiotics marked with a red line to discourage misuse.
- ICMR initiatives: Promotion of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in hospitals.
Source: PIB