Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
Q6. “Antimicrobial resistance is not merely a medical problem but a systemic threat to health security and development.” Identify its principal drivers in India and its wider consequences. Suggest a One Health strategy for its containment. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: DTE
Why the question
The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance to public health, medical treatment, economic productivity and sustainable development, particularly in the Indian context.
Key Demand of the question
Establish AMR as a systemic threat, identify its major drivers in India and examine its wider consequences. Suggest an integrated One Health strategy covering human, animal and environmental health.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Introduce AMR as the declining effectiveness of antimicrobial medicines and highlight its growing significance for health security and development.
Body
- Principal drivers in India: Mention inappropriate antibiotic consumption, weak diagnostics and infection control, antimicrobial use in animals, and environmental contamination as interconnected causes.
- Wider consequences: Indicate treatment failures, rising mortality and healthcare costs, risks to medical procedures, productivity losses and widening health inequalities.
- One Health strategy: Suggest integrated governance, cross-sector surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, better infection prevention, responsible animal use and control of pharmaceutical effluents.
Conclusion
Conclude by presenting antimicrobial effectiveness as a shared public good that requires coordinated, adequately financed and science-based protection.
