Medicine packs to carry thin red line to curb misuse

In a measure intended to curb irrational use of antibiotics, certain medicine packs will carry a 'red line' to differentiate them from other drugs. The move is expected to discourage unnecessary prescription and over-the-counter sale of antibiotics that has been blamed for causing drug resistance for several critical diseases including TB, malaria, urinary tract infection and HIV.

The centre will kickstart an awareness campaign 'Medicines with the Red Line' to spread awareness about irrational use of antibiotics. "India is committed to combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, a collective action is required by all stakeholders within a country and by all countries within a region, " health minister J P Nadda said, The Times of India reported.

He added, the government was also working on a national action plan to combat AMR. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for  concrete steps to address the decline in the  effectiveness of antibiotics.

According to the UN health agency which had cautioned governments and public health experts, "if enough was not done now, common bacterial infections such as skin sores or diarrhea would become untreatable and fatal".

"Now is the time to turn pledges into action, stake out a clear roadmap and take action to prevent further erosion of our health security. The effectiveness of existing antibiotics is extremely valuable," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal-Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia.

According to the WHO, when antibiotics are used, germs that have higher resistance have greater chance of survival than those that are susceptible.

Singh said at a three-day international meeting on 'Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Public Health Challenge and Priority', in New Delhi that when antibiotics are used inappropriately -- such as when they are taken needlessly, too regularly or when an incomplete course is taken -- bacterial infections become immune to them.

Once-treatable health conditions now take a toll of 700,000 lives globally.

She urged South Asian countries to stop the easy access to antibiotics.