With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) becoming a major public health crisis, the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), a high level panel of the nation’s top health regulatory body, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has favoured amending the existing rules to prohibit the sale of antimicrobials to non-pharmaceutical industries without the necessary licenses.
The suggestions by the DCC aims to ensure that these powerful medications are used responsibly and only under appropriate supervision.
At present, the Drugs Rules, 1945, in certain forms, has provisions to exempt selling of drugs to manufacturers of beverages, confectionery biscuits and other non-medicinal products, where such drugs are required for processing these products.
However, in a recent meeting held by the DCC, which considered various proposals on curbing the menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), opined that the antibiotics are sold only to the pharma industry.
The recommendation came after the Committee was informed that the antimicrobials may also be used in other industries such as food, beverages and other non-medicinal, non-pharma industries leading to AMR.
This measure can help prevent misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, which are significant contributors to the development of resistant strains of bacteria, said Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Professor at Delhi-based Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS) and President Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD).
Seen as a serious and growing threat to public health globally, the AMR has been highlighted as a global health priority at a recent G-20 meeting under the Indian Presidency too.
The G-20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration states, “Implement and prioritise tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) following the One Health approach, including through research and development, infection prevention and control, as well as antimicrobial stewardship efforts within respective national action plans through AMR and antimicrobial consumption surveillance”.
