Key Points
- Central government to launch a new monitoring system for animal antibiotic use.
- States and pharma companies asked to provide details of nodal officers and antibiotic manufacturers/distributors.
- Action taken due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major threat to both animal and human health.
- Rampant, unregulated use of antibiotics in India’s dairy and meat industries flagged as a key concern.
- Severe shortage of veterinarians leads to over-the-counter sales and misuse of animal antibiotics.
- WHO has repeatedly warned about the dangers of antibiotic overuse in livestock.
New Delhi: In a decisive move to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Indian government is set to implement a robust new monitoring system aimed at regulating the use of antibiotics in livestock. This initiative, spearheaded by the Animal Health Department under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, comes amidst mounting concerns over the unchecked use of antibiotics in India’s booming dairy and meat sectors.
Why the Crackdown?
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens evolve to withstand the drugs designed to kill them. This makes once-treatable infections potentially deadly. While AMR is a global issue, India faces particular risks due to the widespread use of antibiotics in animals not just for treating infections, but also to boost milk yields and prevent diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly cautioned that the reckless use of antibiotics in livestock not only threatens animal health but also poses a direct risk to humans. Resistant bacteria can be transmitted to people through food, direct contact, or the environment, making even common infections hard or impossible to treat.
New Monitoring System in the Works
To get a grip on the situation, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has asked all states to submit a comprehensive list of pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of animal antibiotics. States have also been directed to appoint nodal officers to coordinate these efforts and ensure compliance.
This data will feed into a centralized monitoring system, enabling authorities to track antibiotic usage patterns, identify hotspots of misuse, and take timely action against violators.
The Scale of the Problem
India’s veterinary infrastructure is severely stretched. There is only one qualified veterinarian for every 40,000 animals, especially in rural regions. This acute shortage means that animal owners often bypass professional advice and purchase antibiotics directly from medical stores, frequently without any prescription. Shopkeepers, in turn, sell these drugs over the counter, fueling the cycle of misuse.
The result: a sharp rise in drug-resistant infections among animals and a growing risk of these superbugs jumping to humans.
What’s Next?
The government’s new monitoring system is expected to:
- Track and regulate the sale and distribution of animal antibiotics.
- Crack down on unauthorized sales and over-the-counter dispensing.
- Promote responsible use of antibiotics among farmers and animal handlers.
- Strengthen veterinary services and awareness, especially in rural areas.
The move is being hailed by public health experts as a crucial step towards safeguarding both animal and human health in India.
