As our arsenal of antibiotics faces the relentless evolution of resistant microbes, the urgency to fortify our defenses intensifies. In this narrative, we unravel the intricate tapestry of AMR and technological ingenuity flourishing to safeguard the foundations of modern medicine. What is Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? AMR is a natural process that occurs when microbes (bacteria, viruses, etc) evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, etc). Widespread antibiotic resistance is a significant component of AMR. Rise of AMR In 1928, the lucky accident of Penicillin discovery in Alexander Fleming's London laboratory changed the course of medicine. Ten years after its discovery - in 1939, extensive research began on Penicillin. It led to the establishment of “The Penicillin Project” - a collaboration that brought 15 pharmaceutical companies in the USA and the UK together to produce Penicillin. The first trials of Penicillin w...
Around two months ago I got to be a part of a very exciting project aiming to build a first-of-its-kind healthcare network in rural India. Rural areas often face significant disparities in healthcare access and resources. The unique challenges faced in rural healthcare settings require innovative approaches and solutions. The need to find creative solutions makes rural healthcare an exciting space to work in. Subsequently - once the patient gets his prescription - finding apt facilities for diagnostic tests or treatment is an onerous task. The nearest hospital does not provide all basic diagnostic tests. Patients have to use expensive private diagnostics services which take as long as 3 days to provide lab reports. The idea behind launching – “Project JanSehat” was to build a holistic healthcare model for rural India. The program is a collaboration between - Spotsense x StepOne x PlusTrust. It is being piloted in the villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The pilot aims...