Minister of Health Haji Mohammad Isham mentioned that the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a serious challenge in Brunei. This has led to a national action plan which is headed by multi-sectoral agencies to tackle the problem.
According to the global minister, AMR is a global threat to public health and 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistance diseases.
A UN report stated that deaths from infections resistant to common antibiotics, antivirals and anti-parasitic drugs could increase more than 10-fold to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.
Last year the Brunei Darussalam Antimicrobial Resistance Committee (BDAMRC), a multi-sectoral committee comprising the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism was formed. So Brunei is ready to tackle the issue.
A Brunei Darussalam Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 2019-2020 has also been formulated.
The minister mentioned that the national action plan is in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan and in terms of approach, very much in line with regional nations’ plans and most importantly, signifies our country’s commitment in combating AMR.
