India reaffirms global commitment against AMR at UNGA meeting

New Delhi: During the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, emphasized the critical need for global cooperation to combat the growing threat of AMR, which she described as “undermining decades of progress made in the field of modern medicine.”

Addressing delegates, Patel stated, “AMR poses a critical threat to global public health,” urging the integration of AMR containment strategies into health programs focused on pandemic preparedness, health system strengthening, and universal health coverage. She highlighted the importance of prioritizing resource utilization for prevention and mitigation over mere surveillance.

Patel detailed India’s significant strides in addressing AMR since launching its National Action Plan (NAP AMR) in April 2017. She noted progress in expanding surveillance networks in both human and animal sectors, reducing hospital-acquired infections through improved infection prevention and control measures, and promoting responsible antimicrobial use across health sectors.

She added, “Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) has been strengthened through comprehensive and nationwide training of healthcare workers, while sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities have improved under the Clean India Mission.”

The minister informed attendees that India has initiated a nationwide systematic and standardized surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAI).“Regulations are in place to ensure prescription-based sales of antimicrobials. To promote judicious use of antimicrobials, National Treatment Guidelines are updated on a regular basis”, she further stated.

Patel also announced the development of an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Program designed to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, tailored specifically for resource-limited settings and increasingly adopted by hospitals across the country. Additionally, inter-sectoral collaboration has been prioritized in the updated NAP-AMR 2.0, which includes budgeted action plans for each sector and defined monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

By leveraging existing “One Health” frameworks, India aims to enhance coordination across human, animal, and environmental sectors in the fight against AMR. The minister further emphasized the importance of operational research and innovation in finding solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of AMR.

Concluding her remarks, Patel expressed appreciation for member states’ efforts in drafting the High-Level Ministerial Declaration on AMR and reaffirmed India’s commitment to combating AMR through national and global initiatives. She stated, “By working together, we can mitigate the risks posed by AMR and safeguard the future of public health worldwide.”