Pfizer and ICMR will create an antimicrobial resistance centre in India

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Pfizer have announced a partnership to set up a centre aimed at combating growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India.

The centre will help in three basic things – expanding ICMR’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme across the country in a phased manner with the focus on smaller in-patient centres and enhancing its existing AMR Surveillance Programme by training specialists to run an expanded network. It will also focus on awareness and advocacy programme using media and non-media platforms to disseminate information on antibiotic resistance and promote rational use of antibiotics.

Union Health Research Secretary K. Vijay Raghavan, who is also the ICMR Director General, said that the government “recognises the need for urgent action and hence is developing a national response mechanism to adeptly deal with the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. It is important to channel all necessary resources in developing, implementing and monitoring antibiotic resistance to minimise its adverse impact, which is posing a huge threat to both health and food security,” he said.