New Delhi, Dec 29 || Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message against the misuse of antibiotics is timely and draws attention to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) -- a very important health concern, said health experts on Monday.
PM Modi, in his last 'Mann Ki Baat' of the year on Sunday, warned people against the misuse of antibiotics and raised the concern of rising levels of AMR in the country.
The Prime Minister cited a recent alarming report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which stated that antibiotics are becoming less effective against diseases such as pneumonia and UTIs in India.
Calling it “extremely worrying”, he urged people not to take antibiotics casually.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat has brought the attention of the entire country to a very important issue, which is antimicrobial resistance," Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR, told.
"Antimicrobial resistance means that the bacteria that cause infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or sepsis are now not reacting to or are not getting resistant to the antibiotics that we use to treat them.