What kinds of strategic policies do we need to prevent AMR and control its spread?
We need to begin by recognizing that private decisions by individuals about the use of antimicrobials – for example, in a health care or agricultural setting – will have an impact on AMR from a general public perspective. Consequently, to prevent the development of AMR and control its spread, action must be taken within a comprehensive public policy that considers the health benefits and risks of antimicrobial use and the impact of interventions on society. In human medicine, we need to address issues relating to the essential and non-essential uses of antimicrobial drugs, as well as the how, why and when of prescribing these drugs. In veterinary medicine and animal production, we need to look at how antimicrobials are used to promote growth and prevent disease, in addition to their therapeutic uses. We must also examine the impacts on human health of using the same antimicrobials in animals as we do in human medicine. Strategic policies relating to prudent and judicious use of antimic
