Rajasthan: The health department in the state has prepared an action plan to contain antimicrobial resistance caused by the non-judicious use of antibiotics, which is increasing. Four members have been nominated by the Rajasthan wing of the Indian Medical Association for the Rajasthan Action Plan for the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (RAPCAR) program.

The program designed by the health department advocates the appropriate use of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, to improve patient outcomes by reducing microbial resistance and decreasing the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

The four members selected by the IMA are Dr. Lokendra Sharma, SMS Medical College senior professor (pharmacology), followed by Dr. Sushil Kumar Sahu, RNT Medical College associate professor (microbiology), Dr. Anurag Sharma, a pediatrician at a private hospital, and microbiologist at the private hospital, Dr. Shalini Gupta, for providing advisory and technical support.

Using the RAPCAR program, the health department is planning to collect evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug-resistant infections in the state. They are planning to use this action plan to sensitize practicing clinicians and promote standard treatment guidelines developed by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) for the rational use of antibiotics.