The global focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is set to keep building, with the United Nations due to sign a landmark declaration on the issue later today, followed by the opening on Monday next week of the 4th International Conference on Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The Slovak Presidency of the EU and EPRUMA (European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals) is also holding a workshop in Brussels on October 13 with the theme of “Creating a common understanding on the responsible use of veterinary medicines”.
Speaking ahead of today’s UN signing, the UK’s chief medical officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: “Drug-resistant infections are firmly on the global agenda, but now the real work begins.
“We need governments, the pharmaceutical industry, health professionals and the agricultural sector to follow through on their commitments to save modern medicine.”
Many in the agricultural industry, of course, will say they are already working hard to achieve practical progress on AMR, with next week’s Dutch event highlighting the steps which are being taken.
Due to run for three days, the key themes of the conference in The Hague include:
- the integration of animal, human and environmental health,
- approaches at global and national levels,
- engagement of stakeholders,
- innovations in disease prevention and detection, including gut health, alternatives to antibiotics, rapid diagnostics, etc, and
- new areas to explore.
The EPRUMA/Slovak Presidency workshop, which will be held at the Brussels Résidence Palace, is designed to “stimulate further dialogue” between public authorities and the private sector to increase a common understanding on the responsible use of veterinary medicines in the EU. Key themes for October 13 include:
- looking at case studies on how national stakeholders and EU/Member State authorities are working together on responsible use,
- identifying good practice and existing gaps in cooperation between public authorities and the private sector, and
- establishing broad principles and priority areas in the promotion of responsible use in the EU.