KERALA REACHES MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN FIGHT AGAINST ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian state of Kerala has made a remarkable 20-30 per cent reduction in antibiotic usage, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The achievement was announced by Health Minister Veena George at a state-level launch of an awareness campaign in Vattiyoorkavu Urban Primary Health Centre.

According to the health minister, Kerala's success can be attributed to strict regulations on antibiotic sales without prescriptions, toll-free numbers to report violations, widespread door-to-door campaigns, and awareness programs. Personal participation by the minister herself reached out to more people about the importance of antibiotic literacy in the state.

The efforts have led to a significant drop in unnecessary antibiotic usage over the past year. This success story may serve as an example for other states to follow suit in reducing their own AMR rates.

Kerala's transformation into "antibiotic-smart hospitals" is another initiative aimed at promoting rational use of antibiotics within healthcare facilities. The state government aims to encourage such transformations among all its hospitals, with officials including MLA V.K. Prashant and NHM State Mission Director Dr. Vinay Goyal joining hands with health workers and community leaders to spread awareness about the importance of smart practices.

While experts remain optimistic that Kerala's progress could be a game-changer in India's fight against AMR, others point out that despite this positive development, much more needs to be done nationwide to create comprehensive policies that curb antibiotic overuse and misuse.

More than 500 million people across the globe are now facing life-threatening antimicrobial resistances.