The European Commission (EC) has launched a three-month public consultation on what to include in its new “One Health” Action Plan against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is due to be adopted by the summer of this year.
The consultation features both a questionnaire for public administrations and stakeholders and a questionnaire for citizens, all designed to ensure that “everyone has their voice heard on how best the Action Plan can support EU countries in the fight against AMR”.
“AMR is a growing global health threat carrying a significant societal and economic burden,” said the EC. “In the EU alone, AMR is responsible for 25 000 deaths and over €1.5 billion (£1.28bl) of healthcare costs and productivity losses annually.
“Given its severity, AMR is a political priority within the EU and the EC has been committed to combatting it since 1999 with a “One Health” approach which recognises that the health of people, animals and the environment are inextricably linked.”
The EC added that its new action plan will build on the evaluation of the existing plan, expanding towards innovative approaches, whilst ensuring the continuation of EU actions that are still needed.
“It will focus on activities with a clear EU added value and, where possible, on measurable and concrete outcomes,” it was stated. “This wide reaching public consultation should contribute towards the common goal of preserving the efficacy of antimicrobials, strengthening infection control and stimulating innovation into new treatments.
The consultation is due to run until April 28, 2017.
