By The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing new guidelines to promote the responsible use of antibiotics and address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the state. The proposed framework is intended to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed only when medically necessary, while helping doctors choose the appropriate medicine based on the nature and severity of an infection.
The move comes amid growing concern over the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, including their use in illnesses where they are ineffective. The government is working on a state-level system to bring greater consistency to antibiotic prescribing, with the new guidelines expected to be notified soon.
Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education and Medical Health, Amit Kumar Ghosh, spoke about the proposed measures during a two-day conference organised at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow in connection with World Sepsis Day. He said increasing antibiotic use and the resulting drug resistance had emerged as a serious healthcare challenge requiring a coordinated response.
According to Ghosh, the process of finalising the guidelines is already in its last stage. The government order is expected to be issued in the final week of September or the first week of October.
Focus on Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing
The proposed guidelines are expected to give doctors a clearer framework for deciding when antibiotics should be prescribed and which medicines should be used. The aim is to prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment for routine infections while ensuring that patients with serious bacterial infections receive appropriate and effective medicines.
A major concern is the continued use of antibiotics for viral illnesses. Conditions such as many cases of cold, flu and other viral infections do not respond to antibiotics because these medicines work against bacteria, not viruses.
Experts also point to several other factors contributing to antibiotic resistance. These include people taking antibiotics without medical advice, stopping treatment before completing the prescribed course and using stronger antibiotics when they are not medically required.
Growing Risk of Drug-Resistant Infections
Prof. Ved Prakash, head of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at KGMU, explained that antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria acquire the ability to withstand medicines that previously killed or controlled them.
Once resistance develops, commonly used antibiotics may no longer work effectively. Doctors may then have to rely on alternative or stronger medicines, making treatment more complicated and potentially increasing healthcare costs and the time a patient needs to remain in hospital.
The issue is also becoming increasingly important in hospitals, where drug-resistant bacteria can make infections more difficult to manage. Recent studies have reported increasing resistance among several bacterial strains, adding to concerns over the effectiveness of commonly available antibiotics.
Guidelines to Give Doctors a Clear Treatment Framework
The proposed state guidelines are expected to provide doctors with standardised directions for selecting and using antibiotics across different types of infections. Prof. Ved Prakash said the broader objective would be to encourage scientifically informed treatment and reduce unnecessary variations in antibiotic prescribing.
Before starting an antibiotic, doctors may need to assess the severity of the infection and, where appropriate, use diagnostic tests and culture reports to identify the causative organism. Determining the correct dose and duration of treatment will also be important in limiting the development of resistance.
Once implemented, the guidelines are expected to encourage more responsible antibiotic practices across government medical institutions as well as other healthcare facilities in Uttar Pradesh.
Public Awareness Also Crucial
Doctors say controlling antibiotic resistance cannot depend solely on prescribing guidelines. Patient behaviour is also an important part of the problem.
Prof. Ved Prakash cautioned against the common practice of self-medication for cold, fever and other illnesses. He stressed that antibiotics should not be started without medical advice and that leftover medicines from an earlier illness should not be reused.
The proposed Uttar Pradesh framework therefore has a wider objective: improving antibiotic prescribing among healthcare professionals while encouraging the public to understand when these medicines are actually needed. Limiting unnecessary antibiotic exposure today could help preserve the effectiveness of existing medicines against serious bacterial infections in the future.
