The graduate's reception at JSS College of Pharmacy was held, and the vice chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Mr. M.K. Ramesh, was invited as chief guest to felicitate the graduate students. The guests of honor included B. Manjunatha, registrar, JSS AHER, Sudheendra Bhat, CoE, JSS AHER, and Vishal Kumar Gupta. The other people who were also present at the function were T.M. Pramod Kumar, principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, and G.V. Pujar, vice principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru. 

At the 77th World Health Assembly held in Geneva from May 27 to June 1, 2004, the emphasis was on antimicrobial resistance. The emphasis was to develop options to tackle antimicrobial resistance that occurs either due to superbugs or due to inappropriate usage of antibiotics.

While addressing the gathering, he asked all the pharmacy students to focus on developing novel antibiotics, as there is a serious threat of antimicrobial resistance. According to a quote from the media, he used the examples of polio and malaria to explain the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system. He explained that now polio is completely eradicated and malaria is under control compared to a period before independence where the average lifespan of a person was 32 years because of the existence of polio and malaria and mentioned that it was all possible because of pharmacists.

He stated that students should focus on continuously updating their knowledge for better research and the development of newer antibiotic agents to tackle AMR.

Mr. M.K. Ramesh, speaking to the group, mentioned that he was happy about the invitation, congratulated all the students on their graduation, and granted gold medals to all the toppers.

He said that pharmacy students can take an active part in research and focus on developing newer compounds that can kill microorganisms. Mr. Ramesh said that, apart from developing newer antibiotics, students should also focus on the main problem arising, i.e., antimicrobial resistance, and thoroughly research the patterns of antimicrobial resistance, though it may require contributions from other healthcare professionals who have a deep understanding of pharmacology, microbiology, and clinical pharmacy as it is demanding.

Pharmacy students should focus on developing newer and novel alternatives like other methods of antibiotic drug delivery or phage therapy, which will also help in increasing efficacy and preventing side effects, he added.

It is crucial to understand how antibiotics work, their mechanism of action, and how to make them efficacious. As there is more and more resistance of microbes to drugs, extensive research is needed to know the resistance pattern and develop strategies to prevent resistance. Not just single antibiotics, but identifying and developing antibiotic combinations can also be helpful for AMR and increasing efficacy.

He also stressed the fact that, because of pharmacists' major role, India is exporting drugs to many countries today. 

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Siddiqua Parveen/MSM)