Hong Kong Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan 2017-2022 is a cross-sectoral policy document. The Strategy and Action Plan has established the following goals: Adopt the WHO Global Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (Global Action Plan) as the backbone of Hong Kong's strategies on response to antimicrobial resistance; Develop a territory-wide network in different sectors to enhance monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use; Promote the appropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals under the prescriptions or recommendations of health care providers and veterinarians and prevent inappropriate and excessive use; Encourage cooperation between different stakeholders (including the private sector) to increase awareness of antimicrobial resistance issues; Promote innovative research on drugs, diagnostics and the operation of local related measures, and understand the causes of antimicrobial resistance; and Participate in global collaborative research activities. In order to achieve the set goals, the Hong Kong Government has identified 19 targets for the six major areas in accordance with the objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan, hoping to slow the rise of antibiotic resistance and prevent the spread. They include: 1. Enhance knowledge through monitoring and research • Establish a surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance in Hong Kong under the framework of “One Health”; • Enhance laboratory capacity to support surveillance in humans and animals; • Monitor the amount of antibiotics used in humans and animals; 2. Improve the use of antibiotics in humans and animals • Strengthen supervision and administration on sales of antibiotics without a prescription; • Implement and improve training in prescription antibiotics in the healthcare sector through antibiotic-directed programmes; • Monitor the compliance of health care workers with antibiotic prescription guidelines; • Ensure proper use of antibiotics on animals; 3. Reduce infection rates through effective measures for environmental sanitation facilities, sanitation and infection prevention • Strengthen infection prevention and control measures in health care institutions; • Strengthen infection control training for health care workers; • Develop and strengthen infection prevention and control programs in the veterinary field and food supply chains; • Increase vaccination rates; 4. Improve public awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective publicity, education and training • Raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance among the public, students and target groups; • Encourage patients to take precautions against infections and use antibiotics correctly; • Add antibiotic resistance and related topics to undergraduate and continuing education courses for health care providers and veterinarians; 5. Promote research on antibiotic resistance • Promote research in innovative technology and medical science; • Promote behavioral and psychological research; • Promote research on medical and economic burdens; 6. Strengthen partnerships and encourage participation of relevant stakeholders • Strengthen international partnerships and regional collaboration; and • Develop public policies and encourage stakeholder participation.
China, Hong Kong SAR · 2017-01-01