Animal Medicines Australia Executive Director Ben Stapley acknowledged the release of Australia’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy – 2020 and beyond by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer following COAG endorsement last week.
The new strategy places a greater emphasis on the need for a One Health approach, integrating human health, animal health and the environment, and reflecting the complexities of antimicrobial use and resistance within and between these sectors.
“We welcome the new strategy, and its recognition that our health, the health of our animals and our environment is interlinked” said Animal Medicines Australia’s Executive Director, Mr Ben Stapley.
As in human health, antimicrobials are needed to treat, control and prevent bacterial diseases in animals. The animal health sector advocates for the responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials. The use of these medicines is highly regulated in Australia for the benefit of both human and animal health.
The animal health industry in Australia has been very proactive in addressing antimicrobial resistance, with the development of the Animal Sector AMR Action Plan in 2018 and numerous sector-specific stewardship programmes and initiatives. Animal Medicines Australia has been working with Australian Veterinary Association to develop best practice prescribing guidelines for each of the major livestock sectors and was the principal sponsor of the first veterinary antimicrobial stewardship conference held in Australia in 2018.
Animal Medicines Australia strongly supports an evidence-based, One Health approach to this complex issue.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to support the priorities set out in the new Strategy in order to protect human, animal and environmental health, and preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines into the future”, said Mr Stapley.