3 Things An expert on what makes AMR a silent pandemic
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Feb 20, 2026 Dr Kamini Walia, a senior ICMR scientist specializing in antimicrobial resistance research and surveillance. She explains why AMR is a hidden crisis in India. She discusses rising antibiotic use in South Asia, community drivers like over-the-counter sales, gaps in surveillance and diagnostics, Kerala’s stewardship example, and prevention through vaccines and better waste rules.
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Prioritize Stewardship Over Bans
- Educate patients, prescribers and pharmacists to promote responsible antibiotic use rather than blunt bans.
- Build public healthcare access and stewardship programs to reduce over-the-counter antibiotic misuse.
Common Infections Becoming Harder To Treat
- Community misuse can turn simple infections like UTIs and typhoid into complicated, resistant cases needing stronger drugs.
- Stopping use of certain drugs can sometimes restore sensitivity over time.
Fix Diagnostics To Curb Overprescribing
- Strengthen infection control and clinical microbiology so doctors can prescribe fewer, targeted antibiotics.
- Use reliable lab results and cultures rather than empiric multi-drug therapy driven by distrust.