MGM Medical College to get AMR Surveillance Lab

This addition is under the National Programme on AMR Containment, which is launched by the Government of India.

The NCDC has accepted the college's proposal for setting up a laboratory.

Dean of MGM Medical College Dr Sanjay Dixit is quoted by FPJ saying, "With an aim to play their part in putting a check of antimicrobial resistance, which is declared as a threat for global health and development, we had sent a proposal to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi for developing a laboratory for AMR Surveillance at the medical college. The lab will help in increasing the research approach and also to add in the antimicrobial resistance strategy of the government."

He further added that antimicrobial resistance is a major concern and it is declared as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity by the World Health Organisation. Union and state governments are also working to put a check on antimicrobial resistance as development of modern medicine would remain at risk in absence of effective antimicrobials.

The National Medical Commission had also asked all the medical colleges to set up antimicrobial committees in all medical colleges with immediate effect. MGM Medical College has also constituted the committee in all association colleges, a fortnight ago.

Explaining the need for antimicrobial surveillance, Dr Dixit said, "There are types of antimicrobial resistance including the resistance against the initial level of antimicrobials due to overuse while another type of resistance includes resistance against advance drugs as doctors didn't prescribe the initial level antimicrobials to the patients. Resistance is developed due to overuse of drugs, irregular use of drugs, and by stop using drugs i.e. cases of MDR TB and XDR TB."