Kerala Sees 20-30% Drop in Antibiotic Usage Amid Government Efforts

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 20 (PTI) - The usage of antibiotics has seen a significant reduction in Kerala, with the state health minister revealing that there has been a "20-30 per cent drop in the use of antibiotics in the wake of government-led interventions.

At a state-run health centre in Vattiyoorkkavu, the inaugural ceremony for a statewide awareness campaign against the excessive and unscientific use of antibiotics was attended by Veena George. The Minister explained that in recent year, the state health department has been working tirelessly to discourage the unwarranted intake of antibiotics.

"This reduction signifies that over the past year, Kerala has effectively reduced the unnecessary consumption of antibiotics among people," she stated.

George also added that strict measures have been implemented to disallow medical stores from dispensing antibiotics without a prescription from a doctor. To fortify awareness, a 24-hour toll-free number was introduced for general public benefit.

As part of their efforts against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), all hospitals across Kerala are slated to be designated as "antibiotic-smart hospitals". Furthermore, the state health department is conducting various awareness programs throughout Antimicrobial Resistance Week.

A pressing concern posed by the WHO estimates predicts that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could contribute to around 10 million globally documented deaths due to unscientific use of antibiotics.