According to a new study India has witnessed the highest increase in consumption of antibiotics over 15 years and is the biggest consumer of a specific class of newer antibiotics taken as a last resort.
Antibiotic consumption in India increased 103% between 2000 and 2015 — the highest in low and middle-income countries.
The average amount of antibiotics consumed by 1,000 inhabitants in India everyday also increased 63% during 2000-2015
Compared to this, antibiotic consumption increased by 65% globally.
In 2012, India also overtook the United States as the highest consumer of a class of new antibiotics known as Oxazolidinones, which are prescribed as a last resort when more commonly used antibiotics are not effective.
Antibiotic consumption is a primary driver for antibiotic resistance. This resistance, the ability of microbes to evolve and withstand the effects of antibiotics, is a significant cause of diseases and death globally.