Antimicrobial Resistance in India: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice Through a One Health Approach

Abstract

A big and growing concern for public health around the world is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). India is a low- and middle-income country with a lot of infectious diseases and AMR makes it harder to stop and cure infectious disease making it a major concern again. India is facing more problems than other countries because of widespread misuse of antimicrobials, inconsistent enforcement of rules, and problems with the health system. India has come up with a detailed policy approach to this problem called the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR). The latest version of the World Health Organisation's Global Action Plan NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) contains the One Health strategy. But even all of these couldn't regulate it very well, which shows the contrast between what the policy says and what it does. This review not only compiles existing knowledge regarding the prevalence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India but also enumerates the primary factors contributing to resistance in humans, animals, and the environment. This review tries to evaluate the progress, milestones, and shortcomings of national AMR strategies. The study demonstrates the significance of an integrated national action plan by coordinating epidemiological data with policy responses, clarifying the importance of implementation and the challenges that remain. The summary highlights the most crucial gaps and steps that need to be taken to make sure that policy pledges really help public health. To bridge the gap between policy and practice in India, we need long-term political commitment, cooperation across sectors, greater leadership, and systems of accountability.