Antibiotic misuse pushing India into public health crisis: Doctors

Highlighting rampant misuse by both patients and doctors, Dr Srinivas stressed that antibiotics must be taken strictly as prescribed and for the full course.

Published on: Dec 30, 2025, 03:56:03 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

India is facing a serious public health crisis due to the growing misuse of antibiotics, leading to a sharp rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Dr M Srinivas warned on Monday.

Antibiotic misuse pushing India into public health crisis: Doctors

Highlighting rampant misuse by both patients and doctors, Dr Srinivas stressed that antibiotics must be taken strictly as prescribed and for the full course.

“Incomplete treatment or arbitrary use directly fuels antimicrobial resistance,” he said, urging all doctors to follow uniform treatment guidelines and avoid prescribing antibiotics where they are not needed.

The consequences are already severe. “Today, when critically ill patients are admitted to ICUs and need antibiotics the most, many of these drugs just don’t work anymore,” he stated. “If we don’t act now, we may soon be left without effective medicines to treat serious infections.”

His warning echoes concerns raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in hisDecember 28Mann Ki Baat address, where he cautioned against casual antibiotic use and highlighted the growing AMR threat. Citing an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report, PM Modi noted that antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective against common infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections – a trend he stressed was “extremely worrying.”

According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections globally in 2023 was resistant to antibiotic treatment. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in over 40% of pathogen–antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual rise of 5-15%.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.