Centre for Development Economics
Department of Economics
Delhi School of Economics
ANNOUNCE A SEMINAR
by
Devesh Roy (IFPRI)
(Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2:15 PM IST )
Venue: Amex Room
Abstract:-
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India is a serious public health concern because it threatens to wipe out gains made over decades of scientific innovation and medical advances. Further, increasing levels of resistance impose an additional burden on healthcare infrastructure and the economy and community. Excessive prescription by general practitioners plays an important role in the inappropriate use of antibiotics. This is further compounded by diagnostic uncertainty and informality in the health sector (including self-medication) that leads to overuse. Amidst the increasing AMR and absence of new drug-resistant antibiotics in the development pipeline, the fight against antimicrobials is getting tougher by the day.
The study attempts to profile the industrial and trade landscape of antibiotic manufacturing, trade in India. With the inability to identify AMR sensitive antibiotics in aggregate data based on global WHO classification and India’s own regulatory framework, we employ proprietary disaggregated data to assess the geographical and income heterogeneity in determining antibiotic use by their AMR sensitivity. There seems to be interplay of incentives and statistical discrimination in usage of antibiotics by type. Imperfect information and external factors like pollution play a significant role in determining the usage of antibiotics. Simple event study approach based on information event show its importance in determining the AMR profile of antibiotics used. A comprehensive one health approach needs to be complemented with designs based on incentives and agency problems both in the private as well as public sector in India.