New chapter in tackling antimicrobial resistance in Thailand

• Thailand has actively contributed to setting the global agenda on antimicrobial resistance • The national strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance (2017-21) promotes multisectoral collaboration to reduce antimicrobial consumption and AMR morbidity and improve public awareness • Strengthening surveillance systems to measure the burden of AMR and the effect of policies must be a priority A ntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global health threat which can cross borders and human and an ima l species. Concerted action is required at global, regional and national levels to tackle it. The World Health Assembly adopted the global action plan on AMR in 2015, which called on member states of the World Health Organization to develop national action plans by May 2017. To date, 67 member states have finalised their national action plans. AMR places a high burden on health and the economy in Thailand, and the government has shown strong political commitment to tackle AMR over the past decade. Box 1 summarises the effect of AMR and antimicrobial consumption in Thailand. Earlier initiatives to tackle AMR, summarised in box 2, have shown some success in reducing the inappropriate use of antimicrobials, but progress has been slow. A need was felt to integrate and consolidate actions across different sectors and to monitor progress. In 2016, the cabinet endorsed the first five year National Strategic Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in Thailand for 2017 to 2021. The cabinet endorsement gives the plan legal status for implementation in different sectors. The plan is based on the One Health approach and takes account of the key components and strategic objectives of the WHO global action plan on AMR. Box 1: Burden and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Thailand AMR burden*