National Action Plan on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) was launched on 19th April, 2017. National AMR surveillance network of state medical college labs (NARS-Net) has been established to generate quality data on AMR for priority bacterial pathogens of public health importance.

Antibiotics are included in Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and are required to be sold by retail only under the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules were amended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to make a provision that the container of a medicine for treatment of food producing animals shall be labelled with the withdrawal period of the drug for the species on which it is intended to be used.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries issued a circular to Directors/Commissioners (Animal Husbandry) of all States and UTs directing judicious use of antibiotics and hormones for the treatment of ailing food producing animals. DCG (I) has also issued advisory to States/UTs that use of Antibiotics and Hormones in animal feed should also be stopped.

Further, the State Drugs Controllers/other stake holders have been sensitized about concerns regarding sale of prescription drugs by retail without prescription of Registered Medical Practitioners.

Sales and distribution of drugs are regulated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 & Rules by the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) appointed by the State Governments. The SLAs are empowered to take action in case of any non-compliance.  

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

****

MV
HFW/NAP-AMR/3^rd February2023/2

(Release ID: 1896028) Visitor Counter : 1871