CHANDIGARH, 27.03.25-A one day workshop on "Antimicrobial Stewardship” funded and sponsored by ICMR, co-organized by the Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh kickstarted today with delegates coming from all across the Punjab State. This workshop was organised for Medical Officers working in different peripheral public healthcare settings.

The day began with the Inauguration ceremony graced by Sh. Ghanshyam Tori (Special Secretary, Health cum Mission Director, NHM-Govt. of Punjab) as the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour, Dr. Manju Bansal along with Dr. Rohini Goyal (Assistant director, NHM, Punjab) and Prof. Vanita Jain (Chairperson, Antimicrobial Stewardship committee, PGIMER Chandigarh) were also present for the Inaugural Ceremony. Prof. Nusrat Shafiq, Organising Chairperson of the workshop, Convener of AMS committee, welcomed the delegates and dignitaries. In her address, she highlighted the theme of the workshop, Rational and Sustainable use of Antimicrobials under “Antimicrobial Stewardship"

Her address was followed by Prof. Vanita Jain (Chairperson, AMSC, PGIMER) she mentioned the background and overview of the committee and the importance of multidisciplinary teams working together in Antimicrobial Stewardship. She also thanked ICMR for their continuous support in the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance.

Later, Prof. Samir Malhotra (Head of the Department, Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER) addressed and congratulated the team for organising the workshop and praised the efforts of Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh in the efforts of Antimicrobial Stewardship and highlighted the importance of judicious use of Antimicrobials to combat AMR.

Sh. Ghanshyam Tori, the Chief Guest delivered the Inaugural Address. He shared his experiences as a policy maker in view of antimicrobial stewardship, and preparation of guidelines for State Action Plan in Punjab.

The proceedings of the day started with the first Lecture delivered by Dr. Kamini Walia (Head, Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR). She delivered a talk on "Initiatives by ICMR in Antimicrobial Resistance".

Other sessions included such as Essential Diagnostics and their judicious use, Institute’s hand holding of feeder units, Discussion on National Action Plan and State Action Plan and Group moderated discussion on practice settings & context. Some of the speakers for these sessions included Assoc. Prof. Archana Angrup, Department of Medical Microbiology, PGIMER, Dr. Adarsh Bansal, Department of community Medicine and School of public health, Asst. Prof. Gyanaranjan, Department of Otolaryngology along with Dr. Mahesh and Prof. Nusrat Shafiq, Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER.

The second half of the day started with lectures by subject experts on Antibiotics: When, Which and How long? Started with Syndromic approach for management of fever delivered by Dr. Harpreet Singh (Assoc. Prof., Infectious Disease Unit, PGIMER) followed by Rational use of antibiotics for infections of genital tract in women by Dr. Rimpi Singla (Addtl. Prof., Department of Obs. and gynae, PGIMER) along with lecture on Rational use of Antimicrobials for infections in Dentistry by Dr. Aditi Kapur (Prof., Department of Oral Health Sciences, PGIMER) followed by last session for the day on Skin and Soft tissue infections by Dr. Sejal Jain (Department of Dermatology, PGIMER)