PRESS RELEASE

BY  YB DATO’ SRI LIOW TIONG LAI

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

ON THE OCCASION OF :

THE  NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON CONTAINMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE - COMBAT ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

16^th October 2012

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PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 – YB Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, the Minister of Health, Malaysia launched the National Campaign on the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance in conjunction with the 5^th Annual Scientific Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance 2012 at Parcel E, Auditorium Putrajaya.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a very serious global problem. Because of antimicrobial resistance, many infections are no longer easily treated, leading to prolonged illness and greater risk of death for patients. In addition, the  cost of healthcare is increased because more expensive and longer duration therapies are needed to treat the infection. Apart from that, AMR also hampers the control of infectious diseases – with the reduced effectiveness of treatment, patients remain infectious for a longer time and thus become potentially infectious to others.

Locally, antimicrobial resistance is on the increase. For example, the micro-organism Streptococcus pneumonia showed increasing resistance to macrolide antibiotics, with resistance levels increasing from 21.9% in 2003  to 30.9% in 2010. Acinetobacter baumanii resistance to the antibiotic Carbapenem increased from 35%  in 2005  to almost 57.4%  in 2011.

Measures to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

The  MOH’s  initiatives to prevent and control Antimicrobial Resistance has been in place for many decades.  Initially, efforts were concentrated on surveillance systems, which include the National Surveillance on Antibiotic Resistance, Surveillance on Alert Organisms (multi-drug resistance organisms) and Surveillance On Antibiotic Usage. Because Antimicrobial Resistance is very much related to infection control and hand hygiene / disinfection, the MOH has strengthened Hand Hygiene Compliance amongst the healthcare  personnel  since 2007 and in January  this year,  it has been made  one of the key performance indicators for the Hospital Directors. Encouragingly, Hand Hygiene Compliance amongst  healthcare  personnel  in the MOH showed an increasing trend, from 60% compliance  in 2009 to 74% compliance  in 2011.

Through the mass media, the MOH has also carried out promotion on the containment of AMR, with this year’s campaign building on  the initiatives  taken in 2011. The  National Campaign on the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, with the theme “Combat Antimicrobial Resistance”, calls for urgent and concerted action by Governments, NGOs, health professionals, the industry, the general public as well as  patients to slow down the spread of this dreaded antimicrobial resistance. The launch of the campaign marks the beginning of a one-month endeavour,  which will be conducted throughout the country and involving both the Government and private sectors.

The objective of the campaign is to enhance greater awareness amongst the  public and health personnel on the rational and judicial use of antibiotics to combat Antimicrobial Resistance.  The campaign is divided into  national and state levels.

National level activities include today’s seminar, which will focus  on the concept of appropriate antibiotic use  to prevent and control  Antimicrobial Resistance. Posters and leaflets will be distributed to all  MOH and private health facilities, targeting both health professionals as well as the public. At the same time, there will be a mass media campaign including television and radio interviews and write-ups on AMR in magazines, newspapers, medical journals and bulletins.  Journalists will be briefed on this issue during the media workshop, which is concurrently held this afternoon, so as to enable them to better pass on this vital message to the public. 

State level activities include the State Department of Health conducting  one-day seminars on the AMR  issue along with other campaign activities such as recognition of hand hygiene champions  and exhibitions on infection control activities. 

A sum of  160 thousand ringgit  has been allocated for this year’s campaign.

Everyone can contribute

With the Malaysian Government taking the lead with national policies  and programmes to combat antimicrobial  resistance, health professionals, civil society and other interested parties can also make important contributions  through  the appropriate use of drugs and vaccines, good sanitation practices and hygiene measures and other safe behaviors e.g. safe sexual practices.

Doctors and pharmacists should ensure the judicious use of only the necessary and appropriate medications that are required rather than the “latest” or “most powerful” ones. Patients should also refrain from insisting that doctors give them antibiotics when these may not be appropriate.

Together, we can win the war against antimicrobial resistance!

For more information please contact: Dr. Christopher Lee K.C

Tel: 03 – 6145 4333 ext. 2214

Email: chrislee@sel.moh.gov.my