UN Recognition of Antibiotic Abuse

Context: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has acknowledged antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a critical global health and development threat, emphasizing the urgency of addressing antibiotic misuse.

AMR and Its Impact

• Antimicrobials: Includes antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics used for humans, animals, and plants. Misuse, especially as growth promoters in food production, accelerates AMR.
• Health Risks: AMR can undermine the treatment of infectious diseases like TB and malaria, making procedures like surgeries and cancer therapy riskier.
• Global Disparities: Low- and middle-income countries are especially affected, with limited access to alternatives and more vulnerable healthcare systems.

UNGA’s Response and Targets

• Global Reduction Goals: Aim to cut annual deaths from bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030.
• Funding: The UN declaration calls for sustainable national funding, targeting $100 million in catalytic funding for AMR action plans, with 60% of countries aiming to have funded AMR strategies by 2030.
• Sectoral Targets:
  • Human Healthcare: 70% of antimicrobials should belong to WHO’s Access Group (safer with lower AMR potential).
  • Healthcare Facilities: Basic water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management systems.
  • Infection Prevention: 90% of countries to comply with WHO’s Infection Prevention and Control standards.

Global Measures Against AMR

• Global Point Prevalence Survey (PPS): WHO tool for assessing antibiotic use patterns in hospitals.
• Global AMR and Use Surveillance System (GLASS): WHO initiative monitoring AMR in humans, food chains, and the environment since 2015.
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW): An annual event promoting global awareness and best practices against AMR.

India’s Commitment and Efforts

• National Action Plan for AMR 2.0: Includes a SWOT analysis across sectors to improve AMR management.
• National One Health Mission: Coordinates surveillance and lab efforts across sectors for AMR.
• AMR Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN): Collects data on drug-resistant infections across the country.
• Operation Amrith: Monitors over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic sales to prevent misuse, first implemented in Kerala.
• Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Initiated by ICMR, focusing on controlling antibiotic use in hospitals.