Apollo launches national Antimicrobial Stewardship prog to promote rational use of antibiotics
The programme will fight the rising incidence of antimicrobial (drug) resistance and improve patient outcomes
Apollo announced the launch of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme (Apollo ASP) at a national level. The programme will sensitise care providers on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo said, “Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme (Apollo ASP) will be the largest program of its kind in the country to promote the rational use of antibiotics to combat the rising burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), also known as drug resistance in the community. The programme will sensitise care providers on AMR, an issue leading to a public health problem and is today one of humanity’s top ten global public health threats. Through the Apollo Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme, we aim to optimise the use of antibiotics, turn the tide on AMR, and ensure continued effective treatment of infections for future generations.”
Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo, mentioned, “The Apollo Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme or Apollo ASP is being launched across the group to improve antimicrobial use and patient outcomes. Apollo ASP will also support the Government of India’s National action plan on the containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) and ICMR’s AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) to control AMR by empowering doctors to use antibiotics judiciously. Our recent data of over 300 thousand bacterial isolates since 2019 across 20 different locations in India shows a considerable increase in community-acquired Antimicrobial Resistance which warrants immediate measures to stop this emerging trend. Integrating these insights into clinical decision-making would foster a culture of rational antibiotic use and save lives.”
Dr K Hariprasad, President of Apollo Hospitals said, “Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have significantly improved global health. They have been a cornerstone of modern medicine, including cancer chemotherapy and advanced surgical procedures. But decades of overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated the emergence and spread of resistant microbes. Today, drug resistance is one of the top ten global public health threats faced by humanity and can have a major impact on modern healthcare. Regular audits and
benchmarking of best practices, surveillance and monitoring of metrics for antibiotic consumption and the patient outcome will form an integral part of Apollo ASP.”
Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo said, “The cost of AMR to national economies and their health systems is significant as it results in prolonged hospital stays and the need for more intensive care. Challenges in India to combat the huge burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are manifold considering a sustained annual rise of 5-10 per cent resistance to broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The first steps have already been taken with the formation of a National Advisory Committee to drive consensus on the way forward and roll out of modules for training.”
The programme will be backed by a digital backbone that will ensure efficiency, and accuracy and allow an analysis of data for decision-making. The ASP will be integrated with Apollo’s electronic medical records platform – Medmantra to facilitate automated alerts. Education and training of doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare staff will include comprehensive case-based modules.
