Under the 12th Five Year Plan there is the target to initiate steps for the containment of antimicrobial resistance in the country through 30 lab networks and awareness activity for rational use of antibiotics, according to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

He told the Parliament recently that the Government had already framed a comprehensive policy, namely, the National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, to address the problem of multi-drug resistance due to widespread and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial/antibiotic drugs in the country. The policy was developed by a task force constituted under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to address the problem.

The major points of the policy include review of the current situation regarding manufacture, use and misuse of antibiotics in the country and design for creation of a national Surveillance System for Antibiotic Resistance. The policy also will initiate studies documenting prescriptions patterns and establish a monitoring system for the same.

It seeks to enforce and enhance regulatory provisions for use of antibiotics in human and veterinary and industrial use. Besides, it will recommend specific intervention measures such as rational use of antibiotics and antibiotic policies in hospitals, the minister informed.

“The aforesaid Task Force had also recommended insertion of a separate schedule under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules to regulate the sale of antibiotics, especially third and fourth generation antibiotics in the country. In pursuance of that recommendation, the Government issued a draft notification GSR 228 (E) dated 20-03-2012 for inviting comments from the public proposing to insert a new Schedule in the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 containing habit forming drugs and certain anti-TB drugs along with antibiotics. The container of the drugs covered under new Schedule will be labelled with a symbol 'Rx' which shall be in red colour and conspicuously displayed on the left corner of the label with the warning - It is dangerous to take this prescription except in accordance with medical advice and not to be sold by retail without the prescription of the Registered Medical Practitioner,” he added.