NEW DELHI: The unchecked sale of antibiotics through illegal online pharmacies is emerging as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has warned, seeking urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the growing threat.
Citing the Prime Minister’s recent Mann Ki Baat address, where he flagged rising antibiotic resistance based on Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) findings, the AIOCD said the country is staring at a serious public health challenge. Commonly prescribed antibiotics for infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections are rapidly losing their effectiveness due to widespread misuse, self-medication and unregulated online access, it said.
In the 129th episode of Mann Ki Baat on December 28, 2025, the Prime Minister cautioned citizens against using antibiotics without medical advice, stressing that these powerful medicines must be taken only under a doctor’s supervision.
Representing more than 12.40 lakh licensed chemists and druggists nationwide, the AIOCD alleged that several online platforms continue to operate in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act by supplying antibiotics and other prescription-only medicines without valid prescriptions. According to the organisation, this easy availability has normalised self-medication and undermined regulatory controls meant to protect patients.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the AIOCD said the growing culture of antibiotic misuse is closely linked to the illegal functioning of e-pharmacies. “The acceleration of antimicrobial resistance is being fuelled by the unregulated and unlawful online sale of antibiotics. These platforms routinely bypass established safeguards and supply prescription medicines without authorisation,” the organisation said.
The chemists’ body further pointed to the misuse of telemedicine guidelines by online operators, alleging that superficial consultations are arranged merely to generate prescriptions on demand. “In many cases, a brief call with an unknown doctor is used as a formality to legitimise the sale of prescription medicines, effectively defeating the intent of the law,” it said.
AIOCD President JS Shinde noted that these practices have repeatedly been highlighted by regulatory authorities and documented in media reports. He also referred to observations made by the Delhi High Court, which has stated that e-pharmacies are illegal. “Despite this, enforcement remains weak, allowing such platforms to continue endangering public health,” he said.
The organisation warned that failure to act decisively would result in higher treatment failures and place additional strain on an already burdened healthcare system. It called on the government to shut down all illegally operating e-pharmacies without delay and urged closer coordination with AIOCD to ensure that prescription medicines are not sold online without proper medical authorisation.
According to the AIOCD, protecting the effectiveness of antibiotics is critical not only for current patients but also for future generations. “If misuse continues unchecked, we risk entering an era where even routine infections become difficult or impossible to treat,” it cautioned.
Reiterating its support for the government’s “Healthy India – Safe India” vision, the organisation said it would continue to promote awareness against self-medication and advocate the rational use of antibiotics. “Antibiotics must be taken only on a qualified doctor’s prescription,” AIOCD General Secretary Rajiv Singhal said, calling for shared responsibility among regulators, healthcare professionals and citizens.
AIIMS Delhi Director Professor M. Srinivas too at a press conference on 29 December 2025, a day after the Prime Minister spoke on Man Ki Baat, urged the public to take antimicrobial resistance seriously. He cautioned that unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics speeds up resistance, rendering these vital medicines ineffective when they are most needed.
“There is no benefit in taking antibiotics without medical advice. On the contrary, it causes harm,” Professor Srinivas said, stressing the importance of public awareness. He explained that many common conditions, including coughs and most respiratory infections, are self-limiting and usually resolve without antibiotics.
“These drugs are essential for critically ill patients, particularly those in hospitals and intensive care units. But because antibiotics have been overused for years, they often fail when patients genuinely need them,” he warned, underscoring how indiscriminate consumption is steadily eroding the power of life-saving medicines.
Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Professor at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) and President of the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD), said the Prime Minister’s message should be seen as a national wake-up call on the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“When the Prime Minister flags a health concern from a national platform, it is a clear indication that the issue has moved beyond hospitals and laboratories and has become a matter of public responsibility,” she said.
“Every unnecessary antibiotic consumed today pushes us closer to a future where even routine infections may no longer respond to treatment,” she warned.
Antibiotics, she noted, are the foundation of modern medicine. They save millions of lives, make surgeries and caesarean sections safer, protect cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and are critical for care in intensive care units. However, their effectiveness steadily declines when they are misused or overused, particularly for minor and self-limiting illnesses.
Such misuse fuels the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, often referred to as superbugs, leading to antimicrobial resistance. As resistance grows, infections become harder and more expensive to treat, illnesses last longer, and treatment options become limited or even ineffective. “In such a scenario, something as minor as a cut, a sore throat or a simple infection could once again turn life-threatening, especially for newborns, older adults and people with weakened immunity,” Dr. Sharma cautioned.
Unlike the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted daily life through visible waves of infection and emergency measures, AMR advances quietly. There are no lockdowns or sudden surges, only the slow and steady erosion of the medicines on which modern healthcare relies. “Antimicrobial resistance is a silent pandemic, steadily weakening our defences,” she said.
Dr. Sharma stressed that the response must begin with individual responsibility. Avoiding self-medication, resisting the urge to demand antibiotics, using them only when clearly prescribed, and completing the full course are simple yet essential steps. “Responsible and judicious use of antibiotics is the only way to preserve their effectiveness and protect the future of healthcare,” she said.
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