PM asked for drastic measure in managing antibiotic use

Illustrative image (Source: cbc.ca)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the to inspect the observation of
regulations in antibiotic prescription and use in medical facilities.

The PM assigned the ministry to
seek measures to effectively monitor the implementation of the regulations and
strictly handle violations.

Meanwhile,
the PM also requested the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and
Trade, and Natural Resources and Environment to assess the effectiveness of the
national action plan on preventing antibiotic resistance for the 2013-2020
period, and apply measures to enhance its efficacy.

The
Ministry of Health is tasked to inspect pharmacies’ observation of regulations
on selling prescription medicines and take measures to manage the enforcement of
the rules, firstly focusing on antibiotics.

At
the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is requested
to strengthen the management of the production, import, trading and use of
antibiotic in animal husbandry and aquaculture, while designing guidances on
the use of animal feed containing .

The
PM asked the two ministries to coordinate in managing the import of antibiotic
materials used in the production and use of veterinary medicine.

Antimicrobial
resistance is a risk to Vietnam’s
people and economy following the increase in antibiotic use and lax management
of antibiotic use in healthcare and animal husbandry.

According
to WHO, results in some 700,000 global deaths per
year. By 2050, the number of deaths attributed to AMR is estimated to be 10
million per year, more than the estimate for cancer and 10 times more than the
estimate for diabetes.-VNA