Declaration on Antimicrobial resistance through a One Health perspective
Information
The Nordic Council of Ministers:
Recalls:
- That animal health and human health are interlinked and that the increase in resistance development to antimicrobial agents and the spread of resistant bacteria poses a global threat to human and animal health.
- The importance of a “One Health” holistic approach to the growing problem of resistance to antimicrobial agents through the cooperation between sectors, spanning human and animal health, food, agriculture, aquaculture and the environment, in order to ensure consistent and effective treatments whilst maintaining a low level of resistance development in adjacent sectors.
- That the consequences of infections caused by resistant microorganisms can be severe, including prolonged illness, and subsequently prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality, production losses, higher costs and loss of antimicrobial protection for patients and animals undergoing operations or treatment.
- The need to maintain a low level of antimicrobial resistance in the Nordic countries and to promote a prudent use of antimicrobials.
- A strengthened Nordic cooperation as addressed in “The Future Nordic Co-operation on Health”[1] on antimicrobial resistance in order to maintain a low level of antimicrobial resistance in the Nordic countries and in order to influence other countries to promote a prudent use of antimicrobials and to prevent further spread of resistant bacteria.
Agrees to strengthen the Nordic collaboration to maintain a low level of antimicrobial resistance and prudent use of antimicrobials in the Nordic countries by:
- Establishing a Nordic "One Health" strategic group of senior officials that can support exchange of best practice and ensure an efficient use of the Nordic resources in the areas of antimicrobial resistance and use of antimicrobials.
Agrees to use the Nordic collaboration to support the work being coordinated internationally in e.g. the EU, WHO, FAO and OIE in order to address antimicrobial resistance:
- Entrust the above mentioned Nordic "One Health" strategic group to further elaborate on ways to use the Nordic collaboration to support the global processes and in doing so stressing the importance of:
- National action plans which incorporate the "One Health" perspective.
- The need for effective hygiene, sanitation and prevention guidelines.
- Support mechanisms that stimulate controlled and prudent use of antimicrobials.
- Identification and elimination of economic incentives in all sectors that encourage inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents, and introduction of incentives to optimize use.
- Improving awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance.
- Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and the use of antimicrobials in humans and animals.
- The development of preventive measures and alternative means to the use of antimicrobials that may contribute to prudent use in humans and animals and reduction in antimicrobial resistance development.
[1] Bo Könberg (2014)”The Future Nordic Co-operation on Health” on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers.