The central government is taking a major step to curb the misuse and misuse of antibiotics. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has been asked to issue guidelines for this purpose.

The central government is taking a major step to curb the unaccounted and misuse of antibiotics. The government plans to introduce a system for identifying antibiotics in the market so that the public can easily understand whether a given medication is an antibiotic or not.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has been asked to issue guidelines for this purpose. According to sources, the government is proposing that antibiotic packaging should have specific coding, color indicators or clear markings so that both patients and pharmacists can immediately identify the drug's category. According to Health Ministry sources, this step is being taken in view of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The government therefore decided

The repeated and unnecessary use of antibiotics is causing bacteria to become drug-resistant, making even common infections life-threatening. Sources say that the packaging currently available on the market makes it difficult for ordinary patients to distinguish between antibiotics and regular painkillers or supportive medications. Taking advantage of this confusion, antibiotics are being sold in many places without a doctor's prescription. The government has taken this decision in light of this.

PM Modi had expressed concern, the government will start an awareness campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed concern over the rising use of antibiotics during a meeting and urged people to use these medications only when absolutely necessary. He cited the example of an 80-year-old female patient in Delhi who was unable to respond to any of the 18 antibiotics she was prescribed. This was because the woman had taken so many antibiotics for her illness that she had developed antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, the government will now launch a national awareness campaign about these drugs.

These were discussed between the government and CDSCO

The government and CDSCO are discussing several options. These include a distinct color strip or box for antibiotics, clear warnings or symbols on the packaging, and a QR code or alphanumeric code to identify the drug category. The aim is to increase patient awareness and prevent unnecessary antibiotic use. The government has also asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi to develop simple, accessible messages for the public.

 PC:TV9Bharatvarsh