A day after Prime Minister Narender Modi sound the alarm on rising antimicrobial resistance in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, experts said the warning has come at a critical moment, as drug resistance continues to undermine modern medical care.
Dr. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, emphasised that antibiotics should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. He pointed out that most common infections are viral in nature, against which antibiotics are ineffective, and should be used only for confirmed or suspected secondary bacterial infections.
Citing ICMR Report, the Prime Minister had cautioned that the indiscriminate use of antibiotics is steadily eroding their ability to treat infections that were once easily curable.
Antimicrobial resistance develops when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms adapt to survive medicines meant to eliminate them. As a result, infections become harder to treat, recovery is delayed, and in some cases, effective treatment options disappear altogether. The Prime Minister stressed that careless or unnecessary use of antibiotics can turn even routine infections into life-threatening conditions.
Urging people to take medicines only on qualified medical advice, Modi had emphasised the importance of completing prescribed courses and avoiding antibiotics for viral illnesses such as colds and flu, where these drugs offer no benefit. He also highlighted hygiene, vaccination, clean water, sanitation, and handwashing as essential tools to prevent infections and reduce dependence on antibiotics.
Dr. Sangeeta Sharma of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi who has been working in the area for several years, noted that highlighting AMR through Mann Ki Baat sends a powerful message that the fight against resistance extends well beyond hospitals and laboratories into everyday choices made by citizens.
She added that India has taken several policy measures to tackle AMR, including the National Action Plan aligned with the World Health Organization’s global framework. The plan focuses on surveillance, infection prevention, rational antibiotic use, research, and public engagement. Efforts are also underway to strengthen prescribing practices, regulate antibiotic sales, and curb misuse in livestock and poultry—an often overlooked but significant contributor to resistance.
Health experts too opined that the Prime Minister’s message is especially relevant for hospitals and intensive care units, where drug-resistant infections pose severe risks to patients with weakened immunity.
Rising AMR has already resulted in longer hospital stays, higher treatment costs, and increased mortality. In critical care settings, resistance can sharply limit treatment options, placing both patients and clinicians in difficult situations, they said.
Recognising the importance of early education, schools across Delhi have partnered with public health organisations. In this direction, Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD), in collaboration with the National Science Centre and WHO to spread awareness recently engaged over 250 students from more than 15 schools through interactive activities that simplified complex health messages.
Dr. Vikas Pant, Vice-Principal of St John’s Convent Senior Secondary School, Burari, described his participation at the AMR awareness session as a turning point. He said the discussions highlighted that antibiotics are not an infinite safety net and that misuse today compromises care for future generations. He stressed the importance of integrating antibiotic stewardship into school culture so that students grow into informed health advocates.
Seema Ahuja, a science teacher at New Horizon School said students emphasised that simple practices—maintaining hygiene, following medical advice, and avoiding unnecessary medicines—can significantly reduce infections and antibiotic misuse.
Addressing students, Dr. Ravindra Aggarwal, former Additional Director General, Delhi Government, stressed that AMR is no longer a distant threat but one that is already affecting families.
Industry leaders also underlined the broader implications. Rajesh Jain of Pharma firm Panacea Biotec highlighted that protecting antibiotics today is essential for securing public health tomorrow. He emphasised that students and teachers play a powerful role as health ambassadors by promoting patience, trust in medical advice, and responsible medicine use.
Drawing attention to systemic contributors to infection risk, Dr. Vivek Yadav, Principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrew’s Ganj, Delhi pointed out that many children in the country remain vulnerable due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, unsafe water, air pollution, and delayed access to care. “Government initiatives under NEP 2020, along with programmes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Mission Indradhanush, National Deworming Day, and disease surveillance efforts, are helping strengthen prevention at the school level which will ultimately help cutting dependence on antibiotics.”
Another critical but often overlooked factor is unsafe injection practices, said Rajiv Nath, Managing Director of Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices Ltd as he highlighted that reuse of syringes and needle-stick injuries contribute to hospital-acquired infections, driving unnecessary antibiotic use.
He said safety-engineered devices such as auto-disable and sharps injury prevention syringes are proven interventions that can break this cycle and reduce AMR.
By spotlighting AMR in Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister has sent a clear signal that safeguarding the effectiveness of life-saving medicines is a shared national responsibility, one that will determine the future of healthcare for generations to come, added Delhi-based Dr. Sumit Anand, Pulmonologist (Respiratory Physician). He noted that antimicrobial resistance poses a grave threat to tuberculosis control in India, which carries the world’s highest TB burden.
“Drug resistance has led to difficult forms such as DR-TB, MDR-TB and XDR-TB, making treatment longer, costlier and more complex.”
He explained that while drug-sensitive TB is treated in about six months, resistant TB often requires 18–24 months of therapy with more toxic and less effective medicines. This results in lower cure rates, higher mortality, and prolonged infectiousness, increasing the spread of resistant strains.
Dr. Sumit Anand also stressed that prevention lies in antibiotic stewardship—using the right drug, dose and duration only when necessary—along with strict prescription practices, infection control, vaccination, strong diagnostics and public awareness. Acting now, he said, is essential to safeguard effective medicines for future generations.
Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), said that recognising the seriousness of antimicrobial resistance, strict regulatory controls are already put in place on the sale and distribution of antibiotics. He explained that antibiotics are classified as prescription-only medicines under Schedule H and Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules and cannot be sold by pharmacies without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
He also informed that over-the-counter sale of antibiotics is a punishable offence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. “Time to time we remind and educate the chemists about advisories of strict legal action against medical shops or pharmacies found violating Government regulations."
Sandeep Nangia, President of the Retail Distribution Chemist Alliance (RDCA), a prominent body representing thousands of retail chemists in Delhi, stressed public cooperation in tackling antimicrobial resistance. “Responsible use of medicines by citizens is a critical part of the collective fight against drug resistance.”
Globally, AMR is recognised as one of the leading public health threats of the 21st century. In India, the challenge is intensified by a high burden of infectious diseases, easy over-the-counter availability of antibiotics, self-medication, and widespread use of antimicrobials in healthcare, livestock, and agriculture.
