India, Dec. 29 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday raised concerns over the misuse of antibiotics in his Mann Ki Baat radio address, warning that consumption without medical supervision is making these life-saving drugs ineffective and even dangerous, particularly in illnesses such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

Speaking during this year's last Mann Ki Baat, Modi said medicines require proper guidance and antibiotics should be taken strictly on a doctor's advice. Citing a report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), he noted that antibiotic misuse is emerging as a serious public health threat.

The Prime Minister said the ICMR findings show that antibiotics, when taken casually or without prescription, are c...