Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health , Chairman of the National Medical Council emphasized this information at the Rally in response to "World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week" and the Workshop to evaluate the implementation of the National Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control for the period 2023-2025, which took place this afternoon (November 24) in Hanoi.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan; Mr. Iain Frew, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Vietnam; Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, together with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and international organizations chaired the Rally in response to "World Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week" and the Workshop to evaluate the implementation of the National Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance Prevention and Control for the period 2023-2025.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners.
Antibiotic resistance is a "silent epidemic" that quietly erodes medical achievements.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is a global campaign to promote understanding and action on antimicrobial resistance.
The WHO 2025 message, “Act now: Protect today, secure our future,” is not just a call to arms, but a powerful reminder of the urgency. Antimicrobial resistance is not just a problem of the future; it is a challenge that is unfolding every day, every hour, and if we delay, the medicines that have saved lives for decades will become ineffective.
According to Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, drug resistance is a "silent pandemic", quietly but silently eroding medical achievements, pushing back human progress and weakening the economy.
Many factors have accelerated the threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide – including the overuse and inappropriate use of drugs in humans, livestock and agriculture, as well as poor access to clean water and sanitation. Vietnam is also in the global context of increasing antimicrobial resistance.
In response to antibiotic resistance, Vietnam has made important strides. In 2023, the Prime Minister approved the National Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance Prevention and Control for the period 2023-2030. The National Strategy demonstrates the efforts and commitment of the Vietnamese Government, in coordination with WHO and other international partners, to combat the increase in antibiotic resistance, and the proactive participation and coordination between the health, agriculture - environment, and industry and trade sectors from central to local levels in the fields of human health, veterinary medicine, and the environment.
Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health, Chairman of the National Medical Council spoke.
The strategy sets out four specific goals, including: Raising awareness among local authorities and understanding among health workers, veterinarians and the public about preventing and combating antimicrobial resistance; Strengthening the antimicrobial resistance surveillance system to provide timely warnings about the emergence, spread, level and trends of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms; Reducing the spread of microorganisms and infectious diseases; Using antimicrobials in humans and animals rationally, safely and responsibly.
The National Action Plan for the health and agriculture sectors has also been approved by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, setting specific targets for awareness, education, surveillance, research, infection control, and optimization of antibiotic use.
Health experts stress that investing in antimicrobial resistance prevention is a smart move for a safer and healthier future. From a hospital administrator setting up an antibiotic stewardship team to a farmer adopting sustainable waste management practices, every action counts.
Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, spoke.
Antimicrobial Resistance: Action Needed Now
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan said that the road ahead in the fight against antibiotic resistance still has many challenges.
"The rate of emergence of new strains of drug-resistant microorganisms is increasing; pressure on irrational drug use still exists; prescribing, selling, and self-treatment behaviors in the community require strong changes; testing, monitoring, and infection control capacity still need to continue to be improved; and response requirements require the persistence and consistency of the entire system," Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan cited.
Therefore, according to the Deputy Minister of Health, "Act Now" is not only the slogan of this year's Week but also our guiding principle in the next phase. This is the time for us to seriously review, comprehensively evaluate and propose strategic, long-term solutions, aiming to ensure that antimicrobial drugs remain effective for future generations.
"The Ministry of Health is committed to continuing to promote its central coordinating role; strengthening inter-sectoral cooperation; perfecting the monitoring system; promoting evidence-based antibiotic use management; improving testing capacity; promoting communication; and at the same time strongly mobilizing the participation of the whole society, in accordance with the spirit of the tasks and solutions in Resolution No. 72 of the Politburo," said Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan; Mr. Iain Frew, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Vietnam; Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam and delegates.
But according to Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, antibiotic resistance is not just a battle for the health sector. It is a battle for every sector, every field, and every individual. Every dose of medicine prescribed correctly or incorrectly, every action taken to use antibiotics by people, every effort to control infections in hospitals, every strategy in animal husbandry and food production all contribute to shaping the success of this battle.
A safer, healthier future for our country and for humanity depends on the actions we take today.
Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that drug resistance is not only a challenge in medicine but also directly affects agriculture and the environment.
"We are committed to continuing to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and branches to deploy management solutions on the rational, safe and responsible use of antibiotics in livestock farming, aquaculture and environmental treatment in a sustainable manner, to protect public health and national food security," said a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Dr. Ha Anh Duc - Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) talked with experts and international organizations about antibiotic resistance prevention at the ceremony.
Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, affirmed that WHO will continue to accompany the Vietnamese Government to expand microbiological surveillance, strengthen laboratory capacity and promote rational use of antibiotics.
Mr. Vinod Ahuja, Chief Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Viet Nam said: Antimicrobial resistance is not only a health system problem but also has profound impacts on agricultural production and food safety. We appreciate the strong leadership of the Government of Viet Nam, demonstrated through the National Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance 2023–2030, vision to 2045.
FAO is committed to continuing to foster effective partnerships and action-oriented approaches to support the successful implementation of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. Let us continue to work together – in a spirit of close cooperation – to strengthen resilience to the impacts of antimicrobial resistance and manage the risks of its emergence. Because only by working together can we protect human and animal health and our shared environment.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan and delegates expressed their determination to step up the fight against antibiotic resistance in Vietnam.
“Whatever your role – shaping policy, delivering services, protecting ecosystems or raising awareness, ‘Act Now: Protect the Present, Secure Our Future’ is a shared responsibility.
Together, we can preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials and build a healthier and more sustainable world for future generations,” said leaders, international and domestic health and agriculture experts at the rally.
Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/thu-truong-tran-van-thuan-toc-do-xuat-hien-cac-chung-vi-sinh-vat-khang-thuoc-moi-ngay-cang-nhanh-169251124190005781.htm
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