India Launches AMR Action Plan 2.0 During Global Awareness Week

As World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week commenced on November 18, 2025, health authorities worldwide highlighted the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, where bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist treatments, turning routine infections into life-threatening conditions. The global campaign, running through November 24 under the theme "Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future," urged coordinated action across governments, healthcare providers, and communities to curb the spread of drug-resistant pathogens.

AMR has emerged as one of the top ten global health threats, affecting people of all ages and regions, with particular severity in underserved areas. According to projections from the World Health Organization, unchecked resistance could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. In India, where the problem is acute, a recent study in The Lancet found that 83 percent of hospital patients carry drug-resistant bacteria, making treatments ineffective from the outset. A November 2025 survey by AIG Hospital in Hyderabad across nine countries identified India as having the highest rate of multidrug-resistant cases, driven by...