The fight against AMR
Health day
Amsterdam, 18 November 2022 – Today is the kick-off of the annual World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW). This week aims to create awareness around the accelerated threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and stop responding to medicines, increasing the risk of diseases and severe illnesses. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem, which eventually will pose a global threat and impact all our lives. Many factors have accelerated the threat of AMR worldwide, such as overuse and improper use of medicines in humans and livestock, as well as poor access to clean water and sanitation, which causes infections to spread and evolve easily.
Quality Assurance is important for safe medication
At IDA Foundation, it has always been our responsibility to create access to quality-assured medicines and medical supplies, which are safe for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. IDA’s quality assurance system is based on a number of factors, including risk assessment of production sites, review of product dossiers, and continuous evaluation of the quality of products supplied by IDA. During storage and transport of our products we monitor the goods and make sure there is no opportunity to interfere with our secure supply chains, for example with falsified or counterfeit materials and/or products.
Access to quality-assured medicines and education around proper use of medicines is essential to prevent AMR. WHO recommends spreading awareness about correct use, such as:
- Taking antimicrobial medicines only when prescribed
- Following treatment directions on dosage and duration, even when you feel better
- Avoiding the sharing or use of leftover antimicrobials
- Only use broad-spectrum antibiotics as a last resort
IDA Foundation supports this through stringent quality assurance of essential antimicrobials, which prevents substandard or falsified medicines from entering the market, supporting access to essential medicines, as well as supporting key messaging around proper use of medicines.
The World Health Organization is calling for a global response against antimicrobial resistance and mandated this week as World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. By encouraging health care providers and the general public to safely use medication, WHO aims to stop the spread of drug-resistant infections. Another part of the campaign is addressing world leaders to introduce policies that for example control the use of antibiotics in livestock. For more information about the annual WAAW campaign, see WHO World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
Besides focusing on safe and correct use of medication, WAter, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) is also crucial in health care facilities. This can help prevent an over-reliance on antibiotics, a key driver of AMR.