New Delhi, July 31: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has expanded its nationwide surveillance programme on antimicrobial resistance to strengthen India’s response to drug resistant infections and improve antibiotic stewardship across healthcare institutions.
The expanded network will collect data from additional government and private hospitals to monitor emerging resistance patterns among bacterial infections. Researchers aim to generate real time evidence that will help doctors prescribe antibiotics more effectively and reduce unnecessary use of broad-spectrum medicines.
Health experts have warned that antimicrobial resistance has become one of the country’s most significant public health challenges, making common infections increasingly difficult to treat. The strengthened surveillance system is expected to improve laboratory reporting and support the development of updated national treatment protocols.
ICMR officials said participating laboratories will receive technical support, advanced diagnostic tools, and regular quality assessments to ensure reliable data collection. The findings will also contribute to policymaking and future research on new treatment strategies.
The programme encourages hospitals to adopt stronger infection prevention practices, rational antibiotic prescribing, and continuous monitoring of hospital-acquired infections. Public awareness initiatives will also educate citizens on avoiding self medication and completing prescribed antibiotic courses.
Medical experts believe the expanded surveillance network will play a crucial role in slowing the spread of resistant microbes while helping protect the effectiveness of existing antibiotics for future generations.
