AJanuary 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) report (‘Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) Report: Early Implementation, 2016-17’, goo.gl/WuJV mm) talks about “widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500,000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries”. The number of people suffering because of antibiotic resistance is a bit deceptive, as only 52 countries, including India, have enrolled in GLASS. WHO is encouraging the countries to instal a strict surveillance system to monitor drug resistance. Research has identified that callous use of antibiotics in food-producing animals is giving birth to antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) among humans. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is toothless in clamping down on prescription-less sale of antibiotics, including those that do not have its approval.

Source: Economic Times February 11, 2018 17:03 UTC