Policy and strategy of controlling antibiotic use - An integrated action plan for overcoming antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a problem that grabs the global attention. To improve the control on the use of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistance, many countries, such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, etc. have proposed the action plans for combating antimicrobial resistance. It requires the collaboration and co-ordination between different governmental departments such as Health Care, Welfare, Agriculture, Environmental Protection et al, to establish a national surveillance program and expert working groups. The actions which should be taken on surveillance, prevention and protection, research and product development have been suggested by the expert working groups. To prevent misuse of antibiotics and to protect public health, the Department of Health (DOH), ROC has invited the Council of Agriculture (COA), Ministry of Finance, Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI), and academic institutes to draft "The Strategic Plan for the Action in Improving in Control of Antibiotic". The action plan for overcoming problems related to antimicrobial resistance in the aspects of medical affairs, health insurance, infection control, pharmaceutical affairs, and food safety were addressed. In terms of drug distribution and supply, DOH and COA will co-inspect more intensively on the manufactures producing antibiotics both for human and animal usage to stop the antibiotics for human usage were sold for the animal use. In addition, the Bureau of Medical Affairs and NHI at DOH will evaluate and monitor the use of antibiotics. Working together with medical specialists, "The list of misuse antibiotics" and "Guideline for antibiotic usage" will be drafted. To control and manage the use of antibiotics more effectively, improving the knowledge of general public about the relationship between antibiotic usage and antimicrobial resistance will be needed. NHI will also provide the information of the amount of antibiotics used at the hospital and community clinics periodically for analysis and surveillance. The Bureau of Food Sanitation at DOH will also collaborate with the COA closely to ensure food safety. Based on the actual use of antibiotics by the farmers to set up the priority in establishing "The maximal tolerances of the animal drug residues". "The testing methods for animal drug residues in meats - analysis of antibiotic residues" and "The testing methods for animal drug residues in meats - analysis of the residues of different classes of antibiotics" will be drafted to facilitate the detection of the residues of antibiotics in the meat products. It is urgent to control and inhibit antimicrobial resistance. An effective action plan requires the effort from all area, including government, medical related professions, academia and publics. By working together, the development of antimicrobial resistance should be rapidly under control.