Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned against the rising danger of antibiotic resistance, urging citizens to stop using antibiotics without medical advice. Speaking during his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, he stressed that “antibiotics are not medicines that should be taken mindlessly.”
ICMR Report Raises Serious Concerns
Referring to a recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Prime Minister highlighted that antibiotics are increasingly failing to treat common infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections. He cautioned that this alarming trend should concern every citizen.
Indiscriminate Antibiotic Use Driving Resistance
According to Modi, the unchecked and irrational consumption of antibiotics is a major contributor to rising resistance. Moreover, he warned that the widespread belief that “one pill can cure everything” is strengthening infections and weakening the effectiveness of drugs designed to fight them.
Call to End Self-Medication
Emphasizing responsible behaviour, the Prime Minister appealed to people to avoid self-medication, especially with antibiotics. Instead, he urged citizens to consult qualified doctors before taking such medicines. He noted that responsible use is vital not only for individual health but also for preserving the effectiveness of life-saving drugs for society as a whole.
Awareness and Discipline Are Key
Modi further stressed that increasing public awareness and maintaining discipline in medicine use are crucial to reversing the trend of resistance. “Following medical advice will prove helpful in improving your health,” he said, reinforcing the importance of adherence to prescriptions.
AMR Emerging as a Major National Challenge
As reported by TOI, health experts have repeatedly warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming one of India’s most serious public health challenges. ICMR has consistently flagged irrational antibiotic use—often without prescriptions—as a key factor accelerating resistance. Consequently, even routine infections risk becoming increasingly difficult to treat.
Expert View: A Global Health Crisis
Adding a clinical perspective, Dr Hitender Gautam, Professor in the Department of Microbiology at AIIMS, described AMR as one of the most pressing global health threats of the 21st century. He explained that indiscriminate antibiotic use delays appropriate treatment, increases healthcare costs, and forces doctors to shift to higher-end drugs with more severe side effects. As a result, the risk of serious illness, morbidity, and mortality rises significantly.
A Silent Pandemic Demanding Urgent Action
Often referred to as a “silent pandemic,” AMR requires immediate and coordinated action. Without strong preventive measures, Dr Gautam warned, projections suggest that antimicrobial resistance could emerge as one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide by 2050.