Operation AMRITH

Facts for Prelims

Operation AMRITH

News: Recently, The Kerala Drug Control Department launched Operation AMRITH to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.

About:
• Operation AMRITH (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For Total Health) is a public health campaign launched by the Kerala Drug Control Department.
• The initiative aims to curb the overuse of antibiotics, a major contributor to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and protect the state’s citizens from its potentially deadly consequences.

Key aspects:
• Curbing Overuse of Antibiotics: The operation aims to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.
• Enforcing Prescription Regulations: Pharmacies are required to maintain accurate records of antibiotic sales, display posters stating ‘antibiotics not sold without doctor’s prescription,’ and comply with prescription regulations.
• Aligning with KARSAP: Operation Amrith aligns with Kerala’s Anti-Microbial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP), reflecting a multi-sectoral approach to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Implementing Various Initiatives: The state has implemented various initiatives, including the Antibiotic Literate Kerala Campaign, block-level AMR Committees, and the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (KARS-NET) for surveillance.

What is Anti-microbial resistance?
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year. The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 3.8 per cent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).