Hong Kong – Secretary for Health chairs 10th conference of High Level Steering Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (with picture)

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Secretary for Health chairs 10th conference of High Level Steering Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (with picture)

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The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, assembled the 10th conference of the High Level Steering Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) today (July 7) to evaluate the execution of the Hong Kong Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2023-2027) and go over the reaction methods with appropriate federal government departments and organisations.

Teacher Lo stated, “AMR poses a significant challenge to public health. Since human health is closely intertwined with the health of animals and the environment, a ‘One Health’ approach is required to tackle the issue of AMR, and interdepartmental and multidisciplinary co-ordination and collaboration are particularly important. I am pleased to see continuous improvements in various aspects through cross-sector collaboration.”

Under the management of the Steering Committee, a series of efforts put down in the Action Plan were executed, consisting of the launch of the Computerised Transaction Record System on June 19 this year for voluntary involvement by certified pharmaceutical traders (consisting of drug stores), while legal changes will be started in a prompt way to mandate the methodical recording of antimicrobial prescriptions and giving through electronic ways; improving monitoring and dissemination of AMR information in food; and carrying out the “veterinary prescription-only medication supply” policy in regional food animal farms.

At today’s conference, the Steering Committee examined the most recent regional circumstance of AMR by evaluating the pertinent newest monitoring information from numerous sectors:

  • Human health information revealed that the wholesale supply of antimicrobials to neighborhood drug stores constantly dropped from 18.5 percent in 2016 to 3.4 percent in 2015. Out of the overall antibiotic supply in Hong Kong, the percentage of the prescription antibiotics under the “Access” category of the World Health Organization (i.e. prescription antibiotics less most likely to lead to resistance) has actually increased from 55.8 percent in 2016 to 62.2 percent in 2015. The arise from the 2024 study on AMR by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) likewise showed enhancements in the understanding, mindset and practice on antibiotic resistance amongst the public.
  • The Hospital Authority (HA) has actually been promoting the sensible usage of antimicrobials through its Antibiotic Stewardship Programme (ASP). The HA presented an electronic platform called “Smart ASP” in 2015 to take advantage of information analytics to produce automated suggestions to clinicians to assist in the evaluation of antibiotic use. In 2024, using appropriate broad-spectrum prescription antibiotics had actually visited 3.1 percent compared to 2023. The HA carefully keeps track of AMR patterns, for circumstances, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRA), which revealed a decrease by 0.6 and 3.3 portion points respectively in 2024 compared with 2023.
  • With concerns to animal health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has actually begun a phased withdrawal of the Antibiotics Permits formerly provided to regional animals farmers because October 1, 2020, to gradually carry out the “veterinary prescription-only medication supply” policy along with to tighten up the guideline on making use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry, in specific those seriously crucial antimicrobials for people. With the arrangement and maturation of veterinary services and pharmaceutical materials to regional animals farmers supported by the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund, the AFCD has actually stopped providing pertinent licenses. The “veterinary prescription-only medication supply” policy has actually been totally carried out considering that January 1 this year.
  • With regard to food security, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actually taken a series of procedures, consisting of arranging workshops for food handlers, creating standards for the food trade, carrying out joint examinations and promoting public education, with a view to more boosting public awareness of AMR and the value of individual and ecological health. The CFS worries that the most reliable method to minimize AMR germs in food is to observe the Five Keys to Food Safety, particularly, pick safe basic materials, keep hands and utensils tidy, different raw and prepared food, cook completely, and keep food at safe temperature levels, in life.
  • The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commissioned regional universities and screening organizations to carry out standard studies on recurring antibiotic quantity and ecological AMR levels respectively in various ecological waters (seawater, rivers, beaches, and so on) throughout the duration from 2020 to 2025. The findings of the studies revealed that the average levels of recurring prescription antibiotics in the regional water environment were listed below the “Predicted No Effect Concentration”suggesting that there was no product influence on the water environment. The studies discovered that the levels of Escherichia coli and its resistance to essential classes of antimicrobials, such as carbapenems, third-generation cephalosporins, and so on in the regional water environment were normally low, showing the reasonably low threats to the involved environment and human health.

The Steering Committee will continue to strive to fight the danger of AMR through multi-sectoral partnership. The development attained up until now highlights the value of executing evidence-based techniques, reinforcing monitoring and research study, and improving public awareness.

For in-depth info about AMR and the Action Plan, please go to the thematic site of the CHP.

Chaired by the Secretary for Health, the Steering Committee was established in May 2016 and consists of agents from the DH, the AFCD, the FEHD, the EPD, public and personal health centers, health care organisations, academic community and pertinent expert bodies.