World Bank data shows AMR could result in $1 trillion in additional healthcare costs by 2050, and $1-3.4 trillion in GDP losses annually by 2030. AMR affects countries in all regions and at all income levels. Its drivers and consequences are exacerbated by poverty and inequality. Low- and middle-income countries like India are worst affected. Globally, India tops the list with the highest antibiotic consumption and highest AMR. There are good reasons for this. India consumes a high volume of broad-spectrum antibiotics - drugs that treat a wide range of common bacterial infections and should be used sparingly - and unapproved formulations of medicines. This high volume of antibiotic consumption is mainly due to unrestricted drug manufacturing, marketing and sales, thanks to a weak regulatory structure. Doctors prefer to prescribe drugs, sometimes indiscriminately, rather than order tests.
Doctors warn that AMR resistance to antibiotics has the potential to be a pandemic. To avoid this, one which can have strong socioeconomic effects like Covid, it is imperative to strengthen regulations, invest in healthcare structure and in R&D to leverage new-age tools like AI. This is something the Global Partnership on AI member countries that includes India is doing.