Regulator set to monitor antimicrobial resistance

New Delhi: India's drug regulatory authority has joined hands with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and the Ministry of Fisheries to address the growing concern of antimicrobial resistance in the country.

India is grappling with the challenge of AMR due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animals. A joint working group has therefore been constituted with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Ministry of Fisheries for a "structured" reporting framework.

The newly formed joint working group will collect data related to production, sales and import of antibiotics as well as information of registered veterinary antimicrobials.

"This initiative has to be undertaken in coordination with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), state licensing authorities, veterinary pharmaceutical companies and other relevant stakeholders," said the drug regulator's order dated June 5.

According to the drug controller, the joint working group will serve as a collaborative mechanism to coordinate efforts and streamline the processes of antimicrobial use (AMU) data collection, reporting and monitoring at the national level.

The drug regulator has sought the list of veterinary pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of the veterinary antibiotics.