Govt Develops National Strategic Framework On Antimicrobial Resistance: Health Minister

Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC), Aamir Mehmood Kiyani Friday said the government has developed a national Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategic framework in the country to raise awareness about its threat and appropriate antibiotic prescribing.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Nov, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC), Aamir Mehmood Kiyani Friday said the government has developed a national Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategic framework in the country to raise awareness about its threat and appropriate antibiotic prescribing.

In a message on the AMR week, he said Antimicrobial Resistance containment is a major priority of government and has been included in national public health agenda.

He said the government has endorsed the Global Action Plan for AMR developed by the WHO and is committed to implement strong programme for containment of AMR in Pakistan. Aligning to the country's need and global commitment, the government has designated National Focal Point for AMR for human health and notified a multi-sectoral AMR oversight committee to develop various technical and policy documents.

This framework has been developed through a consultative process and is in line with the five strategic objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan for AMR.

He said NIH has been enrolled in WHO Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) and are setting up sentinel surveillance for AMR using GLASS protocol.

Pakistan is also among the few countries implementing Tricycle Project which is aimed at integrated trans-sectorial surveillance system for bacterial resistance to antibiotics on a global basis.

He said the ministry has also developed a National Action Plan for AMR through collaborative efforts of all the concerned stakeholders.

The Primary objective of the AMR National Action Plan (NAP) is to ensure that current antimicrobials remain effective as long as possible for all those who need them, and minimize the cost associated with their indiscriminate use.

The major strategic priorities of NAP included development and implementation of a national awareness raising and behavioral change strategy on antimicrobial resistance, establishment of an integrated national AMR surveillance, improve prevention and control of infections in health care, community, animal health, food, agriculture and environment; update and enforce regulations for human and veterinary antimicrobial utilization, phase out use of antimicrobials as growth promoters and provide appropriate alternatives, integration of AMR in all public health research agendas including research on vaccines and, estimation of health and economic burden of AMR for decision making.

He said the ministry of NHSRC and National Institute of Health will remain committed to assist the provincial health and non-health sectors to develop their respective action plans in line with strategic objectives of the Global Action Plan and strategic priorities of NAP on AMR.