In Focus by The Hindu Is India staring at a superbug threat?
Dec 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Abdul Ghafur, a senior consultant in infectious diseases at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai and coordinator of the Chennai Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, delves into the alarming issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India. He highlights India's high resistance rates and the complexities of AMR affecting humans, animals, and the environment. Dr. Ghafur reviews the National Action Plan on AMR and shares effective strategies used in Kerala. Ultimately, he emphasizes individual responsibilities in combating this growing threat.
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Superbugs Are In The Community
- Antimicrobial resistance exists widely in the community, not just hospitals.
- Dr. Abdul Ghafur found carbapenem-resistant bacteria in 6% of healthy people's intestines in 2016.
Tertiary Data Skews National AMR Picture
- GLASS shows India among highest AMR rates because national data comes from tertiary hospitals.
- This makes reported resistance appear higher than representative national levels.
AMR Is A One Health Problem
- AMR is a One Health problem linking humans, animals and agriculture.
- Resistance spreads via environmental contamination, poor sanitation and inadequate infection control.