Union Minister Anupriya Patel Calls for Global Cooperation to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance at UNGA Meeting

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, emphasized the urgent need for global cooperation to tackle the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) during her address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR.

Patel stressed that “AMR poses a critical threat to global public health, undermining decades of progress made in the field of modern medicine.” She urged for the “urgent integration of AMR containment strategies into various health programs, including those focused on pandemic preparedness, health system strengthening, and universal health coverage, with a focus on prevention and mitigation rather than just surveillance.”

Highlighting India's achievements in combating AMR, Smt. Patel noted the country’s progress since the launch of the National Action Plan (NAP-AMR) in April 2017. Key strides include expanding surveillance networks in both human and animal sectors, reducing hospital-acquired infections through improved infection prevention and control, and promoting responsible antimicrobial use across sectors.

“Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) has been strengthened through comprehensive and countrywide trainings of healthcare workers. Sanitation, hygiene, and infection control in healthcare facilities have been improved through programs under the Clean India Mission,” she said.

Smt. Patel further emphasized that “a nationwide systematic and standardized surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) has been initiated,” adding that regulations are in place to ensure antimicrobials are sold on prescription only, and National Treatment Guidelines are regularly updated to promote judicious use of antimicrobials.

India’s Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Program, tailored for resource-limited settings, has been developed to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. The program is already being adopted by several hospitals across the country.

India has also prioritized inter-sectoral collaboration through its updated NAP-AMR 2.0, which includes well-defined monitoring mechanisms and budgeted action plans. The "One Health" approach is being utilized to coordinate efforts across human, animal, and environmental sectors.

Smt. Patel concluded by acknowledging the efforts of UN member states in drafting the High-Level Ministerial Declaration on AMR and reaffirmed India’s commitment to fighting AMR through national and global initiatives. “India remains fully committed to addressing the AMR challenge through comprehensive sectoral and inter-sectoral efforts. By working together, we can mitigate the risks posed by AMR and safeguard the future of public health worldwide,” she stated.