Concerned over the fast pace at which the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is growing in the world, especially in the Asian countries, India and Japan will soon begin collaborative research programme in the field of AMR and development of national integrated surveillance programme.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) of Japan signed a letter of intent in this regard on the sidelines of the meeting of the health ministers from WHO South East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region countries held in Tokyo recently.

The collaborative research programme on AMR will focus on the development of integrated surveillance programme covering epidemiology data and genomic data of antimicrobial resistance in each country; and mutual exchange of information of molecular and epidemiological data of antimicrobial resistance by developing of comparable surveillance programme in each country.

The letter of intent signed by India and Japan noted that “Recognizing the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on global health security; Recalling ‘the memorandum of cooperation between the ministry of health, labour and welfare of Japan and the ministry of health and family welfare of Republic of India in the field of healthcare’ signed on September 1, 2014; and Desiring to start collaboration between NIID of Japan and ICMR of the Republic of India in antimicrobial resistance research”.

The collaboration between the two Asian nations is another significant milestone in the strong ties between the two countries, which will further help in deepening the relations between the two in research and development in scientific areas, particularly public health.

Acknowledging the growing  antimicrobial resistance in the region, the Asian health ministers held a meeting on AMR in Tokyo recently.  In the meeting, the Indian health and family welfare minister JP Nadda stated that AMR is not only a health challenge or a threat to health security, but is also a development challenge with significant and serious economic consequences.

Noting that the health and development challenges posed by AMR confront all countries, small or big, rich or poor, developed or developing, the minister stated that increasing resistance of pathogens to currently available antibiotics can lead to a situation where advanced techniques and procedures in the field of surgery and medicine become redundant and ineffective due to our failure to prevent the spread of infection.