Communication to raise public awareness of measures to prevent and combat drug resistance

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 1121/QD-TTg approving the National Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control in Vietnam for the period 2023 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, with the general goal of slowing down the progression of antimicrobial resistance and preventing and controlling the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms and infectious diseases, while ensuring the availability and continuity of antimicrobial drugs and the rational use of antimicrobial drugs to effectively treat infectious diseases in humans and animals, contributing to protecting, caring for and improving human and animal health, protecting the environment and developing the country's economy and society.

Communication to raise people's awareness of measures to prevent drug resistance Figure 1 — By 2045, basically control drug resistance. Illustration photo

From now until 2030, the Strategy sets out four specific goals: Raising awareness among local authorities and understanding among health workers, veterinarians and people about preventing and combating drug resistance; Strengthening the drug resistance surveillance system to promptly warn about the emergence, spread, level and trend of drug resistance in microorganisms; Reducing the spread of microorganisms and infectious diseases; Using antimicrobials in humans and animals rationally, safely and responsibly.

The strategy strives to basically control drug resistance by 2045, have a system for monitoring drug resistance, and have an effective antibiotic use and consumption system comparable to that of developed countries.

To achieve the above objectives, the Strategy sets out a number of key tasks and solutions. Specifically, on coordinating actions and inter-sectoral responses to prevent and combat antimicrobial resistance : Develop a common framework for action as a foundation for multi-sectoral cooperation, coordinate, implement, and monitor actions according to the specific responsibilities of each sector; develop and implement action plans for each sector of health, agriculture , environment, and industry and trade to address the causes of antimicrobial resistance in the respective sectors.

Regarding policies, laws, and professional regulations : Review, research, and complete policies, laws, standards, technical regulations, and professional guidelines on infectious disease prevention, infection control, diagnosis and treatment, use of antimicrobials, and biosafety in medicine and agriculture; on livestock and aquaculture practices; food production and processing; management and treatment of waste from medical examination and treatment facilities, livestock and aquaculture facilities, and food processing facilities to control antibiotic residues and drug-resistant microorganisms, etc.

Regarding information, communication and social mobilization : Communication, education, raising public awareness of the causes of antibiotic resistance, consequences of antibiotic resistance and measures to prevent and combat antibiotic resistance; maintaining individual and social commitment to changing behavior to use antimicrobials responsibly, stopping the abuse and misuse of antimicrobials; promoting healthy behaviors to prevent infections and their spread, focusing on health workers, veterinarians, livestock farmers, aquaculture farmers, etc.

Solutions to strengthen the surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance, use and consumption in humans, animals, the environment and trade : Strengthen the capacity of the surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals and in the community; monitor the use and consumption of antimicrobials to provide evidence for the development, adjustment of guidelines and timely intervention activities at the national and grassroots levels.

Review and update professional guidelines on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, rational and safe use of antibiotics; use of priority antimicrobial drugs in human health care; infection control, resistance monitoring, use and consumption of antimicrobial drugs.

Develop clinical pharmacy work, implement antibiotic use management programs, manage prescriptions and prescription drug sales; monitor prescription antibiotic sales at drug retail establishments.

Strategy to implement 3 key projects : Project on raising public awareness, strengthening the National Surveillance System on antimicrobial resistance, use and consumption of antimicrobial drugs, strengthening the management of antibiotic use in medicine for the period 2024 - 2030 developed and implemented by the Ministry of Health; Project on raising public awareness, strengthening the National Surveillance System on antimicrobial resistance, use and consumption of antimicrobial drugs, strengthening the management of antibiotic use in veterinary medicine for the period 2024 - 2030 developed and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; 3- Project on monitoring antimicrobial resistance in the environment for the period 2024 - 2030 developed and implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

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