Doctors, Dentists and Veterinarians welcome the new European One Health action plan against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), the Council of the European Dentists (CED) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) warmly welcomes the new European action plan against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). It is especially appreciated that this second plan recognises that human health, animal health and the environment are interconnected and that the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach is emphasised in the proposed actions.

Dr Jacques de Haller, CPME President, said “Awareness-raising and education are keys to change behaviours and encourage the responsible use of antibiotics in both human and animal health. The AMR threat requires a shared responsibility of all actors, including of course healthcare professionals. Prescribers should be encouraged and provided with appropriate tools to make evidence-based prescription and to avoid blind prescriptions. Surveillance systems should become active and share best practices and comparable data with prescribers”.

Dr Marco Landi, CED President, states: “The CED recognises that dentistry will suffer a significant crisis by the loss of antibiotics as effective agents in the treatment of human infection. It is therefore essential in terms of both public and oral health that dentists only prescribe antibiotics when they are necessary and appropriate and that patients are helped to understand that antibiotics do not cure toothache.”

Dr Rafael Laguens, FVE President, reiterated “People and animals share the same environment, interact continuously and are affected in similar ways. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major challenges we face in our globalized world. It is evident that we need a holistic approach and analysis to understand the real mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and identify the critical control points. We need to ensure science-based decisions and coordination of our actions in order to tackle efficiently the challenge of antimicrobial resistance worldwide.”

The three organisations strongly believe that it is only by working together, showing strong leadership and taking full responsibility, that it will be possible to turn the tide, raise awareness on this health threat and engage the whole society in responsible use of antimicrobials, to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics.

READ MORE