September 7, 2017

Canada is taking the bull by the horns by tackling antimicrobial resistance with a concerted and coordinated effort from all levels of government and across sectors including public health, healthcare, animal health, agriculture, industry and academia.

Toward this end, Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Tuesday (Sept. 5) released a Pan-Canadian framework for action on tackling AMR and antimicrobial use. The Pan-Canadian framework was developed jointly with provinces and territories and other key partners in the human and animal health sectors to guide collective action in tackling AMR in Canada.

The framework identifies opportunities for action and desired outcomes under four pillars: surveillance, stewardship, infection prevention and control, and research and innovation. A Pan-Canadian action plan will then be developed to define specific commitments, measurable outcomes, and timeframes to put the framework into use.

AMR is one of the most serious global health threats facing the world today. Existing antibiotics are becoming less effective at treating infections and the development of new drugs is not keeping pace. Even common infections could become life-threatening, and by 2050 annual worldwide human deaths attributable to AMR are estimated to reach 10 million.

"We are enhancing surveillance; promoting good infection prevention and control practices; promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials; and supporting research and innovation for new prevention and treatment products", Petitpas said.

MacAulay, for his part, said, "The prudent use of antimicrobials is an important issue involving not only human health, but the health of animals, food safety, environment and the economy. Agriculture must play an important role in containing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance".

Earlier on May 17, Health Canada announced several changes to the Food and Drug Regulations including new measures that strengthen rules to control access to veterinary antimicrobial drugs in an effort to promote their prudent use in food-producing animals.