Gujarat Health Minister calls for mental health awareness and antibiotic regulation

Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has called for increased awareness regarding depression and mental stress, emphasizing that mental well-being must receive equal attention to physical health amid modern lifestyle pressures. Speaking at the 16th annual conference of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS) in Gandhinagar, Pansheriya highlighted the importance of mental resilience in the wake of global infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The Minister also expressed concern regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically citing the indiscriminate use of high-dose or strong antibiotics for minor illnesses at small clinics. He warned that such practices pose a significant future public health threat. To combat this, the state government plans to launch a statewide awareness program involving allopathic, Ayurvedic, and homoeopathic practitioners to address inappropriate antibiotic use and the dangers of self-medication.