Most infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid, pneumonia have turned into superbugs due to the life-long usage of the same antibiotics over the decades. India stands at the top of the list of the world’s highest number of bacterial infections. Cases of Multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensive drug-resistant (XDR) are increasing. Antibiotic-resistant neonatal infections take the lives of 60,000 newborn babies every year in India. According to the 2016 report,’ the use of antibiotics is a significant driver’ for the development of drug-resistant diseases. Indeed, India consumed more human health antibiotics per person in 2010 than any other country. What’s more, the intake of the nation increased by 62% from 2001 to 2010. The results of this problem aren’t just superbugs and antibiotic-resistant deaths but it is also threatening to wipe out decades of scientific advances and innovation. Pharma sector can play an important role to fight the Antimicrobial resistance battle and contain superbugs menace in India since it is important to bring public attention to these alarming statistics.
About 50% of antibiotic prescriptions in India are unsafe and 64% of antibiotics sold are unapproved. In India, the problems that require pharmaceutical attention are the substantial high incidence of excessive use of antibiotics, their misinformed use and their simple accessibility. Although Pharmaceutical companies do not have much control, once the drug is sold to wholesalers, pharmacies, or hospitals, they still can contribute to the fight Antimicrobial resistance battle by :
- They should try to ensure a wide variety of indications for their product, including for infections that are adequately handled by existing drugs. They may also extensively advertise their products, leading to replacement or improper use of other existing products. Any benefits promoted by pharmaceutical firms that potentially facilitate unsafe antimicrobial usage need to be detected and prohibited.
- In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has had its share of bad ads (including lack of accountability with clinical trial data), but it has a chance to make a difference by entering, not adding to, the battle to combat AMR.
- Today, on the market, prescription-based antibiotic drugs are marketed as over the counter items. In order to curb this hazard, it is important to have a nationalised portal in place to help health departments to keep track of all pharmaceuticals being sold on the market as opposed to prescriptions.
- Pharmaceutical companies have a wealth of information and experience regarding AMR and can play an important role among health care professionals in improving prescribing patterns.
