Operation Amrith:
Kerala has taken a significant step in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by launching Operation Amrith, enforcing the 2011 H1 rule to prohibit the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics.
- Operation Amrith aim to curb the irrational use of antibiotics by banning their sale without a prescription, reducing the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Launched by: Kerala government in 2023.
- Strict enforcement of the 2011 H1 rule, which bans the OTC sale of all classes of antibiotics (first, second, and third-line) without a doctor’s prescription.
- Targeting pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical stores to ensure compliance.
- Kerala remained committed to the 2011 rule, unlike other states which followed a modified 2013 rule allowing OTC sales of first-line antibiotics.
- Focuses on antibiotic stewardship to prevent the misuse of antibiotics, thus mitigating the threat of AMR.
