ICMR drafts national framework for testing critical pathogens

India Nov 12, 2025

ICMR is designing a nationwide framework to standardize how hospitals and labs test for dangerous bugs, hoping to curb the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a problem linked to over a million deaths each year.

Pathogens are grouped into 4 priority levels

Experts grouped pathogens into four priority levels.
Top of the list: common threats like malaria (plasmodium) and dengue that need quick diagnosis, followed by frequent troublemakers like bacterial sepsis.
Rarer bugs are also on the radar but ranked lower.

Updated guidelines set clear rules for rapid diagnostic tests

ICMR's updated guidelines set clear rules for rapid diagnostic tests and checking if antibiotics will work, aiming for faster, smarter treatments and less misuse of meds.
The push also supports homegrown diagnostic tech.