Surveillance, R&D innovation and communication are key levers for India to lead the fight against AMR

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), often labelled as a silent pandemic, is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time.

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As pathogens evolve to withstand the drugs currently available to counter them, our ability to treat infections is rapidly eroding. A recent study funded by Wellcome and the United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Care’s Fleming Fund, estimates that bacterial AMR alone will cause 39 million (3.9 crore) deaths between 2025 and 2050, which translates to three deaths every minute — a shockingly stark statistic. AMR also threatens to undo decades of progress made against infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid and pneumococcal pneumonia, among others, with new multidrug resistant strains now in circulation.

In 2016, in response to the continually escalating global threat of AMR, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened its first High-Level Meeting (HLM) to address the root causes of AMR, develop national action plans, regulate antimicrobials, and promote awareness and best practices. With this mandate, many countries prepared their national action plans. India launched its plan in 2017, a six-pronged approach including improving awareness, reducing infections, optimising antimicrobial use, strengthening surveillance, increasing investment, and enhancing India’s leadership in AMR.Last year, the UNGA reconvened for a second high-level meeting to review global progress on AMR. Its outcome was a strong political commitment by the 193 member countries to identify gaps, invest in sustainable solutions, improve R&D, strengthen surveillance, and ensure constant monitoring in the lead-up to the next review in 2029.