Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Why in news?

• Recently, the Global Steering Group on Antimicrobial Resistance published a report highlighting the urgent need for action to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• It is a significant global health threat that is rapidly escalating. It occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections they cause ineffective.
• It does not mean our body is resistant to antibiotics or antifungals. It means the bacteria or fungi causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic or antifungal treatment.
• When the microorganisms become resistant to most antimicrobials, they are often referred to as ‘superbugs’.

Causes of AMR

• The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
• In India, hospitals generally lack effective mechanisms to prevent the spread of infections from one patient to the other. Hence, they rely on the widespread use of antibiotics to achieve this purpose.
• The second, and major, contributor to antibiotic resistance is agriculture.
• Sectors like poultry, where antimicrobials are injected into animals to resist diseases due to poor sanitation and other infectious environments, fuel antimicrobial resistance extensively.

The Scale of the Problem

• Leading Cause of Death: AMR is already one of the world’s leading causes of death, directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths a year, including one in five in children under five, mainly in low – and middle – income countries.
• In India alone, nearly 300,000 deaths were due to AMR in 2019.
• Life Expectancy: If left unchecked, AMR is expected to reduce life expectancy by an average of 1.8 years by 2035, leading to unprecedented healthcare costs and economic losses.
• Medical Procedures and Treatments: AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments – such as surgery, caesarean sections, and cancer chemotherapy – much riskier.
• Economic Impact: The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.

Measures to Combat AMR

• Preventing Infections: Implementing effective infection prevention and control practices is crucial. It includes observing proper hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and triaging and isolating patients with antibiotic-resistant infections.
• Improving Antibiotic Use: Ensuring access to and improving the use of antibiotics is vital. It involves promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants, and discouraging misuse and overuse.
• Implementing Data and Tracking Systems: Establishing robust data and tracking systems to monitor resistance, guide prevention strategies, and report results at the local and global level is essential.
• Enhancing Laboratory Capacity: Improving lab capacity to identify resistant bacteria is a key measure. It helps in detecting and reporting resistance that has global health implications.
• Research and Development: There is an urgent need for additional measures to ensure equitable access to new and existing vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines.
• Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): It works with world leaders and experts to implement the U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.
• Effective Measures: Effective measures against the scourge are expected to cost an average of 46 billion dollars a year but will yield up to 13 dollars for every dollar spent by 2050.

Conclusion

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex problem that requires a coordinated global response. It is crucial to continue research and development for novel vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines.

At the same time, it is equally important to ensure equitable access to new and existing vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines. The fight against AMR must be personal, local, national, and global.

India Planning to Opt Living Wage Instead of Minimum Wage

Why in news?

• India plans to replace the minimum wage with living wages by next year with the assistance of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

About the Living Wage

• A living wage tends to be more than the minimum wage as it is the necessary level to afford a decent standard of living.
• According to the ILO, the living wage is defined as ‘the wage level necessary to afford a decent standard of living for workers and their families, taking into account the country’s circumstances and calculated for the work performed during normal hours’.
• It tends to be more than the minimum wage, which is the lowest amount of remuneration required by law to be paid by employers to employees for work performed during a given period.

Global Trends

Several countries have increased their minimum wages to protect the workforce against inflation.

• The UK has increased its national living wage by 9.8%.
• Canada’s federal minimum wages have increased 3.9%.
• Belgium increased minimum wage surpassing Rs 2,000 per month.

India and Living Wage

• While many earn a daily minimum wage of ₹176 or more, the national wage floor, stagnant since 2017, lacks enforceability across states and leads to wage payment discrepancies.
• Its lack of upward movement in wages has led to disparities in wage payments across different states.
• However, the exact amount of the living wage in India varies depending on the cost of living in different regions.
• As of 2018, the living wage for an individual in India was reported to be ₹10,300 per month.

Impacts of Living Wage on Contractual Staff

• Data sourced from Prime Database regarding more than 1,000 top listed companies show that it is the non-permanent workers that are least likely to get paid anything above the minimum wages right now.
• In FY23, these 1,062 companies together employed nearly three million non-permanent workers and employees.
• Only 208, or 20%, companies paid all their non-permanent workers more than the minimum wages.

Impacts of Living Wage on Indian Economy

• Increased Consumption: If the minimum wage accounts for decent living, then the wages will go up, consumption will increase, and demand for goods will surge. It could potentially stimulate economic growth.
• Wage-Push Inflation: On the flip side, it could result in wage-push inflation, resulting in a cascading effect on the overall prices going up. It could lead to increased cost of living, particularly for those not covered by the living wage.
• Income Inequality: The transition to a living wage could help address income inequality, which has been a growing concern in India.
• By ensuring that workers earn a wage that can support a decent standard of living, the gap between the rich and the poor could potentially be narrowed.
• Financial Strain on Businesses: Some businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, may face financial strain due to increased labour costs. It could potentially impact their profitability and sustainability.
• Economic Slowdown: The recent reports indicate a significant increase in inequality in India since the early 2000s. To address this inequity, India requires a more thoughtfully planned pay system.

Conclusion

The transition to a living wage represents a significant step towards improving the lives of Indian workers, particularly those on contractual terms.

It aimed at accelerating efforts to lift millions out of poverty and ensure their well-being.

India’s commitment to developing a well-defined and operational system, with technical assistance from the ILO, is crucial for the successful implementation of this policy.