Srinagar, Dec 30: Amid growing global concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has reiterated that medicines bearing a Red Line mark on their packaging must never be consumed without a valid doctor’s prescription.
The advisory comes as part of the Ministry’s nationwide Red Line Campaign, aimed at curbing the rampant misuse of antibiotics and promoting responsible drug use.
The Red Line Campaign urges citizens to identify medicines marked with a red vertical line—typically antibiotics and certain scheduled drugs—and to strictly avoid self-medication. These medicines fall under Schedule H and H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which legally mandate their sale only against a prescription issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
“Medicines with a red line should never be taken without medical advice. Misuse of antibiotics directly fuels antibiotic resistance, making infections harder and sometimes impossible to treat,” the Ministry stated in an official communication.
Health experts in Kashmir have echoed the Ministry’s concerns, warning that AMR has emerged as one of the most serious public health threats of the 21st century.
Irfan Gul, Associate Professor at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, said antibiotic resistance is no longer a distant threat but a harsh reality being faced daily in hospitals.
“We are increasingly encountering infections that do not respond to commonly used antibiotics. Drugs that once worked as first-line treatment are now failing, forcing doctors to use stronger and more expensive medicines. This is a dangerous trend,” Dr Gul said.
He explained that antimicrobial resistance develops when bacteria and other microbes adapt and survive despite exposure to medicines meant to kill them.
“When antibiotics are taken unnecessarily—especially for viral infections—or when patients stop treatment midway, microbes learn to resist. This not only prolongs illness but also increases the risk of severe complications and spread of resistant infections in the community,” he added.
Dr Showkat Mir from the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) stressed that misuse of antibiotics has reached alarming levels in the region.
“Self-medication, over-the-counter sale of antibiotics without prescriptions, and irrational prescribing practices are major contributors to AMR in Kashmir. Many people still believe antibiotics are a cure-all, which is simply not true,” he said.
Dr Mir warned that if corrective measures are not taken urgently, even routine infections could once again become life-threatening.
“We are gradually moving toward a post-antibiotic era. If resistance continues unchecked, common surgeries, cancer chemotherapy, and organ transplants will become extremely risky,” he cautioned.
To strengthen monitoring and response, the Government of India has established the National AMR Surveillance Network (NARS-Net), which conducts surveillance of nine priority pathogens using standardised protocols. Annual surveillance reports from 2017 to 2023 are publicly available through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The Ministry is also implementing the National Programme on AMR Containment, which includes: Awareness campaigns during World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on judicious antibiotic use and infection prevention and IEC content developed in 12 regional languages and shared with States and Union Territories
In addition, national guidelines such as the National Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines have been issued to reduce healthcare-associated infections and irrational antibiotic prescriptions.
Doctors in Kashmir point out that antibiotic resistance has already compromised the treatment of common infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis, and bloodstream infections. Citing global studies, they note that AMR was associated with nearly 5 million deaths worldwide in 2019, a figure projected to rise sharply if urgent action is not taken.
“AMR is a silent pandemic,” Dr Irfan Gul said. “The public must understand that antibiotics are a precious resource. Taking them without a prescription endangers not just the individual but society at large. These drugs must be preserved for future generations.”
Health experts have called for stricter enforcement against the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, stronger infection control practices, improved surveillance, and sustained public education campaigns across Jammu and Kashmir to prevent an impending health crisis—(KNO)
