Operation Amrith

• The Kerala Drug Control Department has launched Operation Amrith (AMRITH – Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For Total Health) to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.
• Operation Amrith is aimed at conducting surprise raids in retail medical shops for detecting over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics.

FACT

• The Kerala government was the first state in India that came up with the state action plan on AMR, Kerala Anti-Microbial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP), in 2018.
• Aligned with India’s National Action Plan on AMR, Kerala’s plan reflected a multi-sectoral approach.