Punjab to Ban Over-the-Counter Sale of Antibiotics to Curb Antimicrobial Resistance

Chandigarh, September 16, 2025 

The Punjab government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to curb the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics — a move aimed at tackling the growing public-health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Announced on Tuesday, the initiative combines regulatory tightening with digital monitoring, pharmacist training and measures across human and animal health sectors to reduce irresponsible antibiotic use. At the core of the policy is a phased ban on dispensing high-end antibiotics without a valid prescription. Pharmacy chains, retail chemists and veterinary outlets will be required to refuse sales of specified antibiotic classes unless matched with a doctor’s digital prescription. To enforce this, authorities plan to roll out a digital prescription-tracking system that logs prescriptions and links them to dispensing records. Officials say this system will help detect suspicious or repeated antibiotic purchases and will enable audits of prescribing and dispensing behaviour. Punjab’s health department is also pushing hospital-led reforms. Public and private hospitals will be mandated to set up infection-control committees and carry out regular prescription audits. Selected hospitals will appoint “AMR champions” — staff members responsible for stewardship activities such as reviewing antibiotic use, advising clinicians on narrow-spectrum options, and organising staff training. The state is planning awareness drives aimed at clinicians and the public to explain why indiscriminate antibiotic use undermines future treatment options. Recognising the role of veterinary antibiotic use in AMR, the plan specifically targets the animal-health sector. The government will phase out growth-promoting antibiotics in livestock feed and impose stricter licensing rules for farms and feed manufacturers. Authorities will also introduce monitoring for antibiotic residues in milk and meat supplies, and strengthen traceability measures so any contamination can be quickly traced and contained. Environmental safeguards form the third pillar of the policy. Waste disposal regulations for pharmaceutical effluents and hospital discharges are being tightened to limit environmental contamination by antibiotic residues — a recognised contributor to the spread of resistant bacteria. The state plans to upgrade effluent treatment in hospitals and pharmaceutical units, and promote best-practice waste management including composting and biogas solutions where feasible. To support the transition, Punjab will run capacity-building programmes for retail pharmacists, veterinary practitioners and prescribers, emphasising responsible dispensing, diagnostics-guided therapy and patient counselling. There will also be incentives and technical support for smaller pharmacies to adopt the digital prescription interface. Experts welcomed the move as timely but stressed that success hinges on implementation. “Policy design is strong; the challenge will be sustained enforcement and ensuring affordable access to diagnostics and qualified clinicians,” noted a public-health specialist familiar with AMR interventions. Civil society organisations urged the government to roll out the digital systems with privacy safeguards and provide outreach in rural areas where informal antibiotic access remains common. The government has set an initial roadmap for pilot districts before statewide scale-up. If implemented effectively, Punjab’s multifaceted strategy could reduce injudicious antibiotic use, protect the efficacy of essential drugs and serve as a model for other states wrestling with AMR.