In response to the growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Punjab government has announced a sweeping set of measures aimed at restricting the misuse of antibiotics and preserving their effectiveness. Under the newly launched state action plan, officials intend to ban the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of certain classes of antibiotics and impose stricter regulatory control on their prescription, distribution, and environmental disposal.
What the Plan Includes
- Phased Ban on OTC Antibiotics: High-end antimicrobials will no longer be sold without a valid prescription. The ban is to be rolled out gradually, allowing stakeholders time to adjust.
- Prescription-Tracking Digitally: Within a year, the state will deploy a digital system to track prescriptions. The existing tuberculosis drug-monitoring app will be expanded to include all drugs in Schedule H1 under Indian Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, which classifies antibiotics that are prone to misuse.
- Training for Pharmacists: Retail pharmacists will be required to undergo mandatory training (in Punjabi) on responsible dispensing practices, including refresher courses.
- Hospital Protocols & Stewardship:
- All hospitals will need to establish antibiotic policies and rational use guidelines.
- Regular prescription audits will be conducted in government hospitals, nursing homes, and community pharmacies.
- Hospitals are to appoint AMR Champions within two years to lead stewardship efforts.
- Veterinary & Agriculture Sector Controls:
- Surveillance of antibiotic use in livestock and poultry, including tracking of residues in milk, meat, poultry and fish products.
- Phase-out antibiotics used purely for growth promotion in animals. Restriction on use of critically important human antibiotics in animals.
- Stricter licensing, labelling, and regulation of veterinary antibiotics and feed manufacturers.
- Infection Prevention & Environmental Safeguards:
- Strengthening infection prevention & control (IPC) in hospitals—establish IPC committees, train officers (especially nursing staff), enforce hygiene and sanitation.
- Implement better waste-management protocols to reduce release of antimicrobial agents into water and environment, including regulation of pharmaceutical effluents.
- Promotion of biosecurity in farms, safer disposal of litter, promotion of composting or biogas for managing animal waste.
Why the Move
- Rising AMR Threat: Overuse, misuse and easy access to antibiotics—both in humans and animals—have been identified as major drivers of resistance. Punjab’s move aims to address these across sectors.
- One Health Approach: The strategy aligns with a ‘One Health’ paradigm, recognizing that human health, animal health, agriculture, and environment are interconnected in the spread of AMR.
Challenges Anticipated
- Enforcement & Compliance: Ensuring pharmacies and chemists adhere to the new prescription norms may be difficult, especially in rural or remote areas.
- Availability of Diagnostics & Veterinary Services: Without accessible labs for antibiotic sensitivity testing and adequate veterinary professionals, practitioners may still rely on empirical antibiotic use.
- Awareness & Behaviour Change: Both among health professionals and general public (including farmers) to avoid self-medication, incomplete treatment, and unauthorized use of antibiotics.
- Regulation Gaps in Veterinary & Agricultural Sectors: Use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes (growth promotion), unlicensed treatment by unqualified persons (‘quacks’), and insufficient monitoring of residues are longstanding issues.
Expected Impact
If successful, the policy could lead to:
- Reduction in antibiotic misuse in both humans and animals
- Slowing down of resistance development
- Improvement in public health outcomes (fewer treatment failures, less severe infections)
- Safer food chain (less antibiotic residue in food products)
- Environmental protection through controlled waste and effluent management
