The Hindu Editorial Analysis
4 December 2025
The Climate Is Breaching the Wall of Urban Metrics
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS Paper III – Health, Science & Tech, Environmental Issues, Governance
Context
India has launched the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR 2.0) for 2025–29, at a time when antimicrobial resistance is posing one of the greatest threats to global and national health security.
Antibiotic resistance transcends hospitals—it spreads through soil, water, livestock, and food systems, creating a One Health challenge. The article emphasizes that while India has made progress, effective nationwide implementation and coordination are still lagging.
1. Evolution: From NAP-AMR 1.0 to 2.0
- The first NAP on AMR (2017–2021) was India’s first structured national effort to tackle the crisis.
- It raised awareness, promoted multi-sectoral collaboration, and encouraged One Health integration (linking human, animal, and environmental health).
- However, implementation was limited to a few states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, and others.
- Most states lacked dedicated action plans or institutional frameworks, resulting in fragmented local responses.
2. Why AMR Matters: A One Health Challenge
- AMR impacts human health, agriculture, veterinary systems, aquaculture, and the environment.
- Misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, poor waste management, and weak regulation have accelerated resistance.
- India faces dual challenges:
- High infectious disease burden (antibiotic use is unavoidable).
- Inadequate regulation and surveillance (antibiotics available OTC, misuse in poultry and dairy).
3. Key Features of NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029)
- Represents a mature, coordinated, and mission-driven framework.
- Introduces:
- Defined roles, responsibilities, and resource alignment across ministries.
- Private sector integration—recognizing the role of healthcare and pharma industries.
- Focus on rapid diagnostics, alternatives to antibiotics, and environmental surveillance.
- Recognizes that AMR must be tackled not just as a medical issue but as a food system, environmental, and economic issue.
4. Institutional and Governance Reforms Needed
- The plan envisions a national monitoring mechanism under NITI Aayog, with state-level AMR cells to coordinate implementation.
- However, the author warns that without strong governance, NAP-AMR 2.0 may remain only a document, not an actionable plan.
- Suggested reforms:
- Create a Central-State AMR Platform for joint review.
- Develop data dashboards integrating hospital, veterinary, and environmental data.
- Strengthen financial autonomy and accountability for states.
5. Funding and Multi-Departmental Engagement
- Current funding under the National Health Mission (NHM) and ICMR programmes is insufficient.
- India needs conditional AMR-linked funding to incentivize better surveillance and reporting.
- Encouraging inter-ministerial collaboration — Health, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Environment — is essential to make it a truly One Health framework.
6. Private Sector and Innovation
- Greater private sector participation is essential for innovation:
- R&D for new antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics.
- Waste management and green manufacturing in pharma industries.
- Without private sector integration, the AMR plan cannot achieve scale or sustainability.
7. The Global & National Imperative
- India accounts for ~30% of the global antibiotic consumption and faces rapidly rising resistance in E. coli, Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter.
- WHO’s Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS) identifies India as a high-priority country for coordinated action.
- Success of NAP-AMR 2.0 will determine India’s leadership role in global AMR control frameworks.
Conclusion
“India has the policy blueprint, but what it now needs is implementation muscle.”
The editorial argues that NAP-AMR 2.0 must not become a bureaucratic exercise but a national health security mission.
To ensure success:
- Empower states with funds and autonomy.
- Create joint monitoring structures under NITI Aayog.
- Integrate human, animal, and environmental surveillance systems.
Only a multi-sectoral, well-funded, and accountable national mechanism can transform India’s AMR plan from a policy paper into a global model of resilience and coordinated governance.