Explainer - Antimicrobial Resistance

• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the second version of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025-29) in New Delhi on November 18.

• The previous edition of NAP-AMR was launched in 2017. It was developed in alignment with the Global Action Plan on AMR.

• NAP-AMR 2.0 addresses the gaps identified in the first NAP-AMR by increasing the ownership of AMR-related efforts, strengthening inter-sectoral coordination and ensuring stronger engagement with the private sector.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

• Antimicrobials — including antibiotics, anti-virals, antifungals, and antiparasitics — are medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. 

• As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.

• AMR is a natural process that happens over time through genetic changes in pathogens. Its emergence and spread is accelerated by human activity, mainly the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials to treat, prevent or control infections in humans, animals and plants.

• Micro-organisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

• AMR threatens the very core of modern medicine and the sustainability of an effective, global public health response to the enduring threat from infectious diseases. 

• AMR threatens the safety and effectiveness of procedures such as surgical interventions, cancer treatment, and organ transplants thereby having the potential to reverse the advancements made not just in modern medicine but also the growth and economy at the global and national levels.

• It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

• In addition to death and disability, AMR has significant economic costs. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in $1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and $1 trillion to $3.4 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.

• Antimicrobial resistance is a drain on the global economy with economic losses due to reduced productivity caused by sickness (of both human beings and animals) and higher costs of treatment.

• Systematic misuse and overuse of these drugs in human medicine and food production have put every nation at risk. Few replacement products are in the pipeline. 

• Without harmonised and immediate action on a global scale, the world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which common infections could once again kill.

• To counter it needs long-term investment, such as financial and technical support for developing countries and in development of new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions, and in strengthening health systems to ensure more appropriate use of and access to antimicrobial agents.

Development of NAP-AMR 2.0

• AMR is recognised as a national priority and the Union Health Ministry has taken several steps for AMR containment. 

• The National Task Force on AMR Containment was constituted in 2010 leading to development of the National policy on AMR containment in early 2011. 

• In April 2017, the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) was launched.

• The development of NAP-AMR 2.0 started in 2022 through a series of stakeholder consultations held for the human health sector, research sector, professional associations and civil society organisations, environment and animal husbandry sectors.  

• This was followed by high level meetings conducted at NITI Aayog with participants from more than 20 concerned ministries and departments.

• Each stakeholder ministry/department developed their respective action plan with defined goals and timelines.  

• The updated NAP-AMR includes specific action plans of each key stakeholder ministry/department with timelines and budget to enable effective monitoring of progress in implementation of the national action plan. 

• The updated NAP-AMR also includes well defined mechanisms for coordination and collaboration within and across the sectors.

World AMR Awareness Week

• The World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and increase understanding of AMR and to promote global action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. 

• As one of WHO’s official health campaigns, WAAW is mandated by the World Health Assembly and is commemorated annually from November 18 to 24.

• The theme for WAAW 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”.

• This theme underscores the urgent need to take bold, united action to address AMR.

Additional Read:

What is antibiotic pollution?

Antimicrobials given to humans, animals and plants are entering the environment and water sources (including drinking water sources) via wastewater, waste, run-off and sewage and through this spreading drug-resistant organisms and antimicrobial resistance. High levels of antibiotics in water bodies downstream of manufacturing sites have been widely documented.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)