New Delhi: The Health Ministry in India has recently issued a crucial directive aimed at addressing the rampant misuse and overuse of antibiotics within the medical community. Under this new directive, all doctors are now required to include specific information such as the indication, reason, and justification when prescribing antibiotics to their patients. This initiative is a response to the increasing concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health threat that arises from the improper use of antimicrobial drugs.
Dr. Atul Goel, the Director General of Health Services operating under the Health Ministry, issued a letter outlining the mandatory practice of providing detailed information while prescribing antibiotics.
Dr Goel stated in the letter,
“It is an urgent appeal to all the doctors to make it a mandatory practice to write indication/reason/Justification while prescribing antimicrobials. Looking forward to your support the promote judicious use of antimicrobials to reduce emergence of AMR”
The urgency of the matter was underscored, and an appeal was made to all doctors and pharmacists to adhere to these guidelines. According to Dr. Goel, antibiotics fall under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, and their sale is restricted to prescriptions issued by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP). The letter explicitly instructs pharmacists to strictly implement these rules, halting over-the-counter sales of antibiotics and dispensing them only with a valid doctor’s prescription.
The directive also addresses the larger issue of antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the role of misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in driving the development of drug-resistant pathogens. Dr. Goel stressed the importance of prudent antibiotic use, noting the limited availability of new antibiotics in the research and development pipeline. He urged doctors to make it a mandatory practice to include indications, reasons, and justifications when prescribing antimicrobials.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a severe threat to global public health. The letter highlighted that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, with an additional 4.95 million deaths associated with drug-resistant infections. It jeopardizes the effectiveness of preventing and treating infections caused by resistant microbes, leading to prolonged illness and an increased risk of death.
Furthermore, the directive emphasizes that the change in prescription practices should begin within medical colleges. Dr. Goel emphasized the significance of medical colleges, stating that they not only provide tertiary healthcare but also serve as educational hubs for the training of the next generation of doctors. Setting an example of judicious antimicrobial use in medical colleges is deemed essential to instill responsible practices in the future healthcare professionals who will face more severe health crises.
In conclusion, the Health Ministry’s directive aims to tackle antibiotic misuse, urging doctors to provide detailed information when prescribing antibiotics and emphasizing the critical role of medical colleges in setting an example for responsible antimicrobial use.