New National Action Plan Targets Gaps in AMR Fight; Focus on Awareness, Lab Capacity, and Private Sector Engagement
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, today launched the second version of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) for 2025–29, emphasizing that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major public health concern that demands collective, coordinated action.
The launch event, held on the first day of the WHO’s World AMR Awareness Week (November 18-24), saw the Minister stress the urgency of the problem, stating that the “overuse and misuse of antibiotics has unfortunately become common practice, underscoring the urgency of corrective measures.”
AMR poses significant risks, particularly undermining the safety and efficacy of critical healthcare interventions such as surgical procedures and cancer treatment.
Nadda highlighted that the NAP-AMR 2.0 is designed to address the gaps identified in the first National Action Plan (launched in 2017). The new version aims to Increase ownership of AMR-related efforts across all levels. Strengthen inter-sectoral coordination among different ministries. Ensure stronger engagement with the private sector.
The Minister asserted that the key strategies for AMR containment under NAP-AMR 2.0 include Strengthening awareness, education, and training. Enhancing laboratory capacity. Improving infection control in healthcare facilities.
He also stressed the importance of regular stakeholder meetings to promptly resolve implementation challenges.
Dr. A K Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, noted that the NAP-AMR 2.0 is a timely initiative for generating a more coherent action plan. He highlighted India’s pioneering role in the global fight against AMR, which he described as a “pandemic” severely affecting developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Dr. Sood also mentioned several proactive steps taken by India, including States like Kerala and Gujarat becoming the first to ban the over-the-counter sales of antibiotics. The ban of certain antimicrobials and pesticides for use in crops, aligning with the ‘One Health’ approach. The establishment of the India AMR Innovation Hub, which involves national and international stakeholders to build a novel technology platform, mobilize resources, and enhance collaboration for innovation.
The launch marks a renewed five-year commitment to tackling the global health crisis posed by drug-resistant infections.