ECDC welcomes the endorsement of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance by the World Health Assembly
On 25 May, delegates from the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), endorsed a global action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The goal of this action plan is to ensure successful treatment and prevention of infectious diseases by securing fair, affordable access to effective antimicrobial agents to those who need it most.
The global action plan defines five objectives to achieve this goal:
- to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance;
- to strengthen knowledge through surveillance and research;
- to reduce the incidence of infection;
- to optimise the use of antimicrobial agents; and
- to develop the economic case for sustainable investment that takes account of the needs of all countries, and increase investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions.
Through adoption of the global action plan, WHO Member States agreed to mobilise resources to ensure its implementation and committed to have similar plans at national level by 2017.
Several EU/EEA Member States, the EU (European Council, European Commission) and WHO/Europe, already have strategies or action plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance. These were listed on the ECDC directory page of online resources for prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections.
More information
- Antimicrobial resistance. Draft global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (World Health Organization)
- Antimicrobial resistance strategies and action plans (ECDC directory)
- Antimicrobial resistance health topic
Source: ECDC
