Madhya Pradesh State Action Plan for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (MP-SAPCAR).

This State Action Plan (Plan) provides for the framework for containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is based on the One Health Approach and is closely aligned with the National Action Plan on AMR. The Plan discusses the existing initiatives for AMR containment in Madhya Pradesh relating to awareness generation and prudent use of antibiotics, antibiotic stewardship, laboratory strengthening and improving data quality. The Plan talks about the state workshop on AMR which brought together all stakeholders and was crucial in formulating this Plan. Based on the state workshop, the Plan identifies six strategic priorities for containment of AMR in the state: 1.Awareness and understanding; 2. Knowledge and evidence; 3. Infection prevention and control; 4. Optimizing use of antibiotics; 5. Research and innovations; and 6. Collaborations.
The first strategic priority aims at increasing awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training. This involves improving awareness among students, public, animal sector and pharmaceutical sector; and capacity building of key stakeholders. The second strategic priority is strengthening knowledge and evidence through surveillance. This includes strengthening laboratory capacity, establishing quality systems for culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing in health, animal husbandry, food and environment sectors, and establishing state level AMR surveillance across all sectors based on WHO priority list of pathogens. The third strategic priority focuses on reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control (IPC). The focus areas for this are infection control in healthcare, control spread of AMR in animal sector, farms, community and environment through awareness sessions on IPC practices.
The fourth strategic priority aims to optimise the use of antimicrobial agents in health, animals and food. This involves regulating access to high quality antimicrobials, developing antibiotic stewardship programme in healthcare and efficient use of antimicrobials in veterinary and aquaculture. The fifth strategic priority is promoting investments for AMR activities, research and innovations for AMR containment. The objectives include establishing baseline data of current research on AMR, promoting investments for research and developing alternate strategies to combat AMR. The sixth strategic priority aims at strengthening the state’s commitment and collaborations on AMR which involves establishing governance mechanism on AMR containment, sharing of knowledge and resources, collaboration with other states, intersectoral linkages and private sector engagement. The Plan also lays down a monitoring and evaluation framework to map out the activities undertaken and the expected outcomes.