The misuse and overuse of antibiotics leading to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India can be tackled through collaborative effort by government, drug supply chain and medical professionals, said AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta.
Gupta's remark came in the wake of a notification issued by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) advising the drug supply chain system in India to follow strict requirements of Schedule H and H1 for sale of medicines. The drugs under Schedule H can be sold only based on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner and only the amount specified in the prescription should be sold. Schedule H1 was included in 2013 to curb the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, anti-TB and some other drugs in the country. These drugs cannot be sold without a valid prescription.
Meanwhile DCGI issued the advisory to drug supply chain, state drug controllers to ensure compliance of norms pertaining to sale of Schedule H and H1 drugs after a woman from Nevada, USA visiting India died of a super bug resistant to available antibiotics.
DCGI Dr GN Singh said that India is heading towards path of complying global pharma and healthcare practices. Antimicrobial resistance caused by overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a major health challenge in India which can be reined in by taking strong policy measures including strict regulatory action on the over the counter (without prescription) sale of high end antibiotics falling in Schedule H and H1 category. Trade body, consumer associations need to raise consumer awareness about the side effects of taking antibiotics without prescription so that antibiotic resistance can be avoided for patient safety.
State drug regulators have been asked to take action against those indulge in selling antibiotics without prescription while violating Schedule H and HI norms, he said.
AIOCD general secretary stated “There are rampant cases of high end antibiotic use in the country. A number of antibiotics, sedatives and pain-killer drugs are over prescribed by physicians. Chemists dispense these drugs while maintaining detailed records and prescriptions. We have sensitised retailers to sell drugs falling under schedule H and H1 on valid prescriptions.”
“We have time and again demanded that the government should come up with a mechanism consisting of representatives from trade body, medical fraternity and health ministry to chalk out action plan to curtail the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. As we are sensitizing chemists to abide by requirements of the Schedule H and HI for sale of drugs, representative body of medicos should also sensitize doctors to prescribe antibiotics wisely. Besides this, it is the responsibility of the government to keep close vigil at the drug makers carrying out clinical trials of new drugs in the country to protect the public health and patient safety,” he concluded.