As the world marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future” carries a powerful message that resonates across healthcare systems, communities, and policymakers. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — driven largely by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials ( especially antibiotics) — has emerged as one of the most pressing global health threats. It compromises the ability to treat common infections, increases medical complications, and puts at risk decades of progress in modern medicine.
Against this backdrop, experts across the industry are urging immediate, collective action to preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs. Calling for heightened responsibility, Dr. G. Krishna Mohan Reddy, Senior Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, emphasized the pivotal role of prudent antimicrobial use. “We must use treatments like antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals carefully, and only when needed. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are a key driver of antimicrobial resistance… It is the responsibility of the entire healthcare system to secure a healthy future by preventing misuse and overuse of these vital medicines,” he noted.
Echoing this sentiment from the digital healthcare landscape, Mr. Gaurav Verma, Head of B2C, PharmEasy (API Holdings), highlighted the rising challenge of self-medication and incomplete treatments. “Antimicrobials are vital to modern healthcare, but their misuse… accelerates antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At PharmEasy, we are committed to promoting the responsible use of antibiotics,” he said, urging consumers to seek proper medical guidance and avoid taking antimicrobials without prescription.
Together, these perspectives underline a stark reality: safeguarding antimicrobials is not just a medical responsibility but a societal imperative.
As WAAW 2025 drives global awareness on the escalating threat of AMR, the message remains clear — responsible antimicrobial use is central to protecting both current and future generations. From clinicians and pharmacists to consumers and policymakers, every stakeholder has a role in curbing misuse, strengthening surveillance, and promoting informed decision-making.
By following medical advice, avoiding self-prescription, completing prescribed courses, and understanding the long-term consequences of antimicrobial misuse, individuals can significantly reduce the pace of resistance. Institutions, too, must continue investing in education, stewardship programmes, and public health frameworks that reinforce the safe and rational use of antimicrobials.
The call to “Act Now” is more urgent than ever. Only through collective commitment and sustained awareness can we protect our present and truly secure a healthier, safer future for generations to come.
