India's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: a critical perspective. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nair, M.; Zeegers, M.P.; Varghese, G.M.; Burza, S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of global antimicrobial resistance. Volume 27(2021)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Antimicrobial resistance -- India -- Policy -- National action plan; Drug resistance -- Periodicals; Drug resistance -- Periodicals; Drug resistance; Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2021.10.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-7165

Abstract

Highlights: India's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) mirrors the WHO Global Action Plan's ambitious goals. Lack of state financial allocation, poor enforcement and inadequate multisectoral co-ordination have hampered progress. Plan indicators rely heavily on training, guidelines & behaviour change interventions with limited success in other LMICs. AMR containment is a cross-cutting, horizontal programme across several sectors and government ministries. It must be integrated at all levels in existing programmes for dengue & malaria control and TB & HIV care, among others. ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely recognised as a global health threat, which is projected to account for more deaths than cancer by 2050. The Government of India has formulated a National Action Plan to tackle AMR (NAP-AMR), largely modelled on the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan on AMR. While the NAP-AMR successfully mirrors the Global Action Plan and lays out ambitious goals, we find that the lack of financial allocation across states, poor enforcement and inadequate multisectoral co-ordination have hampered progress. A broader focus on improving infrastructure for water and sanitation, linking the issue of AMR to existing vertical health programmes for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB), prioritising infection prevention and control, strengthening the frontline healthcare workforce in rural and peri-urban settings to reduce reliance on antibiotics, leveraging point-of-care testing and mobile app-based health interventions for diagnosis and surveillance, and adopting a socioecological approach to health and development would help to create an enabling environment for concrete action on AMR in India.