Many international organizations and ministries of health say antimicrobial resistance as an urgent health problem, yet few countries actually have a response plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization.
WHO conducted a survey over a two-year span from 2013 to 2014 to determine the extent to which effective practices and structures to address antimicrobial resistance have been implemented and where gaps still remain. WHO conducted the survey in all six of the organization's regions and 133 of the 194 WHO member states provided information.
According to the report, only about a quarter of the member states surveyed — or 34 out of 133 — have a financed national plan with multisectoral input for addressing antimicrobial resistance.
The study also evaluated the WHO member states' laboratory capacity to undertake surveillance for resistant microorganisms, access to safe and effective antimicrobial medicines, control of the misuse of these medicines, and awareness and understanding among the general public and effective infection prevention and control programs.
To read the full report, click here.
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