Approval for first National Antimicrobial Action Plan

It is understood that approval has been granted for Ireland’s first National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020.

The Plan is due to be published this month (September) with the implementation and evaluation processes designed to encompass ‘One Health’ and sector specific time frames.

The rise in antimicrobial resistance is considered to be one of the greatest potential threats to human health at global, European and national levels with serious consequences for public health as well as animal health and welfare. If AMR continues to rise it will become increasingly difficult and expensive to control and treat infections in medical care.

The approval was secured by Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD.

The overall goal of Ireland’s National Action Plan on AMR is to ensure, for as long as possible, the availability of effective antibiotic treatment options for both humans and animals, with safe medicines that are qualityassured, used in a responsible way, and accessible to all who need them.

Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD said, “The rise in antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest potential global threats to human health. It also has serious consequences for animal health and welfare, as well as having an adverse environmental impact. The truth is that If AMR continues to rise it will become increasingly difficult and expensive to control and treat infections in medical care. As a country we need to act now to respond to this reality.”