Kolkata, Jan 3 || The West Bengal Health Department has scheduled a crucial meeting on January 9 to finalise the draft of the State Antibiotic Action Plan, aimed at curbing the rampant use of antibiotics and tackling antimicrobial resistance across the state.
A state secretariat official said on Saturday that representatives from various concerned departments will also be present at the meeting. Besides the health department, officials from the animal husbandry, fisheries, and environment departments will join the discussions to ensure a comprehensive approach. Areas with high mosquito breeding will be identified, and efforts will be made to introduce guppy fish breeding in these areas.
Departments such as Forest and Animal Husbandry may also be involved in implementing specific measures.
Notably, the state has been actively working to control antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance for the past year. Antibiotics whose indiscriminate use is becoming dangerous for humans have been identified. Furthermore, the new policy will include clear guidelines to effectively regulate the use of antibiotics in hospitals and ICU settings.