Irrational uses of antibiotics including irregular, incomplete and inadequate treatments along with overuse of antibiotics are known drivers of drug resistance
Information regarding consumption of antibiotics in India is not being centrally collected. However, irrational uses of antibiotics including irregular, incomplete and inadequate treatments along with overuse of antibiotics are known drivers of drug resistance. The health minister, Mr JP Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 20, 2015.
The Drugs and Cosmetic Rule, 1945 were amended in 2013 to incorporate a new Schedule H1 under the said rules containing 46 drugs which include III and IV generation antibiotics, anti TB drugs and certain habit forming drugs for having strict control over the sale of these drugs. The Drugs falling under Schedule H1 are required to be sold in the country with the following conditions:-
The supply of a drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be recorded in a separate register at the time of the supply giving the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied and such records shall be maintained for three years and be open for inspection. The drug specified in Schedule H1 shall be labeled with the symbol Rx which shall be in red and conspicuously displayed on the left top corner of the label, and shall also be labeled with the following words in a box with a red border. Further, the Government of India has formulated a National policy for containment of antimicrobial resistance in 2011.
A National Program for Containment of AMR has also been initiated in 12th Five Year Plan with the following objectives: To establish a laboratory based surveillance system by strengthening laboratories for AMR in the country and to generate quality data on antimicrobial resistance for pathogens of public health importance. To generate awareness among healthcare providers and in the community regarding rational use of antibiotics and to strengthen infection control guidelines and practices and promote rational use of antibiotics.
