In his monthly radio address, "Mann Ki Baat," Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the growing concern of antibiotic resistance, citing a recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Prime Minister warned against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, emphasizing that this practice is rendering these drugs ineffective against common illnesses such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

PM Modi stressed the ICMR report's finding that a major factor contributing to antibiotic resistance is the public's tendency to use these medications without proper medical guidance. He cautioned that antibiotics are not a panacea to be taken casually and should only be used when prescribed by a doctor.

"Nowadays, people have started believing that just taking a pill would cure all their problems," the Prime Minister observed. He explained that this belief is contributing to diseases and infections becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

PM Modi urged citizens to refrain from self-medicating, particularly with antibiotics. "I urge all of you to refrain from using medicines at your own discretion," he stated. "This is especially important when it comes to antibiotics. I would simply say: Medicines require guidance, and antibiotics require doctors". He emphasized that following this practice would be very helpful in improving public health.

The Prime Minister's warning aligns with global concerns about rising antibiotic resistance. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report indicated that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments. The WHO data also revealed that antibiotic resistance increased in over 40% of pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored between 2018 and 2023, with an average annual rise of 5–15%. This escalating resistance to essential antibiotics poses a growing threat to global health.