Even as antibiotic resistance is becoming a universal evolutionary phenomenon, as bacterias are surviving both in environment and human bodies, the union health ministry has asked the Task Force, constituted by the government early this month, to recommend the design for creation of a national surveillance system for antibiotic resistance.

Besides, the ministry has also asked the task force to review the current situation regarding manufacture, use and misuse of antibiotics in the country and also to initiate studies documenting prescription patterns and establish a monitoring system for the same in the country.

The task force have also been given the terms of reference to enforce and enhance regulatory provisions for use of antibiotics in human, veterinary and industrial use and to recommend specific interventions/measures such as rational use of antibiotics and antibiotics policies in hospitals which can be implemented as early as possible.

The task force was constituted by the ministry to study the irrational use of antibiotics and over-prescription of antibiotic and contributing factors for antibiotic resistance in the country, especially in the wake of the controversy regarding the Superbug called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM1), which was alleged to be resistant to the most powerful antibiotics and had hit the image of the country as a destination for medical tourism and cheaper treatment facilities.

The Task Force is expected to submit its report in a month's time, and the future course of action on this issue by the ministry will depend on the examination of its recommendations. The ministry intends to introduce new rules to regulate the sale of antibiotics and add separate schedule under the Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules, in the wake of recent controversies.