INSIDE INDIA'S AMR CHALLENGE: FIXING AWARENESS, DIAGNOSTICS AND HOSPITAL POLICY GAPS

Dr. Narendra Saini of the IMA unpacks India's escalating AMR crisis, highlighting solutions to bridge awareness, diagnostics and policy gaps in the fight against a looming public health threat.

- By Nehal Gautam

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a formidable threat to India's public health, with the potential to reverse decades of medical advancements by rendering antibiotics ineffective against once-treatable infections. In 2021, AMR was directly linked to over 267,000 deaths in India, with nearly a million more indirectly associated, and projections warn of a staggering 1.2 million annual fatalities by 2030 without urgent action. In clinical settings, pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter are increasingly defying even last-line treatments, leaving healthcare providers grappling with limited options and escalating costs. This crisis is driven by a toxic mix of factors: unregulated over-the-counter antibiotic sales, irrational prescribing by unqualified practitioners, inadequate diagnostic infrastructure in smaller hospitals, and environmental contamination from pharmaceutical waste. Compounding the challenge is the global scarcity of new antibiotics, with pharmaceutical companies reluctant to invest in drugs that take 15-20 years to develop and offer modest returns. India's breakthrough with Nafithromycin, a novel antibiotic, the first in its class globally in over 30 years, demonstrates the power of focused innovation but remains an exception in a dwindling pipeline. In this compelling Q&A, Dr. Narendra Saini, Chairman, AMR Committee of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) dissects the multifaceted AMR crisis, spotlighting the urgent need to address gaps In physician awareness, diagnostic capacity, and hospital policy. Through the IMA's SMART Hospital framework, advocacy for stricter regulations, and efforts to integrate private practitioners and smaller facilities into national strategies, Dr. Saini outlines a roadmap for change. He emphasizes practical solutions, scaling diagnostic access, enforcing prescription audits, promoting adult vaccination, and fostering public-priv