The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently launched a global campaign urging governments all across the world to adopt its new online tool called AWaRe (Access, Watch and Reserve).

It aims at guiding policy-makers and health workers of country to reduce spread of antimicrobial resistance, adverse events and costs.

This AWaRe tool was developed by World Health Oraganisation’s Essential Medicines List (EML).

The WHO’s latest advisory, suggested adoption of AWaRe approach which classifies antibiotics into three groups –

1. Access– which antibiotics to use for the most common and serious infections
2. Watch– which ones should be available at all times in the healthcare system
3. Reserve– those that must be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort

Red Line Campaign: In India, Union Ministry of Health Affair has made it mandatory to display a 5mm-thick red vertical band (line) on packaging of prescription-only drugs (those which compulsorily require Doctors’ Prescription) so as to sensitise people and make them cautious while buying these Antibiotic medicines that are widely sold without prescriptions.