Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on 22 August 2026 called for equal priority to mental well-being and physical health, even as he warned that indiscriminate antibiotic use poses a growing public health threat, at the inauguration of the 16th annual conference of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS) — CIDSCON 2026 — held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The conference is themed 'Addressing AMR: From Awareness to Action'.

Mental Health Cannot Be an Afterthought

Pansheriya stressed that the pressures of modern lifestyles, compounded by the psychological aftermath of global infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, have made mental resilience a public health priority. He called for greater awareness around depression and mental stress and urged that these conditions be addressed with the same seriousness as communicable diseases.

The minister's remarks signal a broadening of Gujarat's public health agenda beyond conventional infectious disease management — a shift that health advocates have long sought.

Antibiotic Misuse: A Ticking Clock

Pansheriya raised pointed concern over the prescription of high-dose or stronger antibiotics for minor ailments at small clinics. 'Such practices could become a major public health threat in the future,' he said. He noted that self-medication — referenced in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme — is already eroding the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating common infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

He announced that the state government would soon organise a statewide awareness programme involving doctors from allopathic, Ayurvedic, and homoeopathic systems to address inappropriate antibiotic use. He also urged doctors to ensure patients complete their full prescribed antibiotic course rather than stopping midway.

Gujarat's AMR Surveillance Infrastructure

The minister highlighted that Gujarat is scaling up early-warning surveillance and laboratory-based monitoring through digital tools, including the Gujarat State AMR Surveillance Network and the AMR Dashboard. He emphasised that the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires collective responsibility from doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, and citizens — not the Health Department alone.

During the inaugural session, Pansheriya and other officials released the book 'Antimicrobial Stewardship Program', underscoring the state's institutional commitment to the issue.

Specialists Highlight the Stakes

CIDS president Dr Subramanian Swaminathan illustrated the human cost of drug resistance through the case of an 11-year-old patient who had battled a severe, resistant infection for nearly 11 years and failed treatment at multiple facilities. A clinical pharmacologist on the CIDS team devised a specialised regimen, leading to a complete recovery. 'This demonstrates that when it comes to drug resistance and complex diseases, our specialised expertise can bring about a major positive change in the lives of ordinary citizens,' Dr Swaminathan said.

Organising chairman Dr Atul Patel warned that AMR is no longer a theoretical risk — it is a daily clinical reality. He cautioned that advances in modern medicine, including complex surgeries and cancer immunotherapy, could be jeopardised by antibiotic failure, and called for accurate diagnosis before prescribing, stronger microbiology services, and a sharper focus on infection prevention.

Dr Patel also invoked the 'One Health' framework, noting that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected and that AMR cannot be addressed in silos.

Conference Participation and What Comes Next

CIDSCON 2026 is drawing infectious disease specialists, researchers, microbiologists, and physicians from across India and from countries including the United States and Singapore. CIDS secretary Dr Neha Gupta, treasurer Dr Kavitha, scientific chairperson Dr Tanu Singhal, and co-organising chairman Dr Harsh Toshniwal were among those present at the inauguration.

As the conference proceeds, the clinical research and protocols emerging from CIDSCON 2026 are expected to inform treatment practices across participating specialists' fields — with the Gujarat government's planned awareness drive on antibiotic use set to follow in the coming weeks.