Bengaluru, March 6, 2026 — The Karnataka Health Department has initiated a statewide program designed to meticulously map and track the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This effort, a direct response to global concerns over escalating resistance, seeks to identify specific resistance trends, uncover new microbial threats, and chart geographical variations in how microbes defy existing treatments.
The program involves systematic collection and analysis of samples from designated sites across all of Karnataka's districts. The objective, according to Swetavalli Raghavan, advisor to the State government on Antimicrobial Resistance and the initiative's nodal coordinator, is to build robust scientific data for 'evidence-based decision-making' in public health matters.
The 'Tata Institute for Genetics and Society' (TIGS) is providing crucial scientific and technical assistance for these surveillance activities. Their support includes advanced genomic surveillance and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) to produce reliable data on resistance patterns within the state. This collaboration was formalized through a letter from Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to TIGS, dated May 27, acknowledging AMR as a "significant public health challenge" with far-reaching implications for healthcare, patient well-being, and public health infrastructure.
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This statewide push aims to fill existing gaps in real-time surveillance within India, as noted by Dr. Raghavan. The generated data is expected to bolster public health preparedness and contribute to improved long-term health outcomes for Karnataka's populace.
