ICMR partners with Pfizer to combat antimicrobial resistance

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer have inked MoU to establish a ‘Centre to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance’ in New Delhi. The centre will help in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India.

Key Facts

The centre will help to expand ICMR’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme across country in phased manner with focus on smaller in-patient centres and also enhance its existing AMR Surveillance Programme by training specialists to run expanded network. It will also focus on awareness and advocacy programme using media and non-media platforms to disseminate information on antibiotic resistance and promote rational use of antibiotics.

Significance

The partnership will help to implement series of comprehensive interventions, ranging from AMR stewardship programmes for nursing homes. It will scale up ICMR’s existing AMR surveillance programme by training specialists to run expanded India surveillance network that will cover both private and government hospitals to collate, analyse and publish drug resistance data across all geographies in India.

National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR)

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in April 2017 had finalised a NAP-AMR. It spells out six strategic priorities including improving awareness through communication, strengthening surveillance, education and training and promoting investments for AMR initiatives.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2018