Hanoi (VNA) - For low- and middle-income countries like Vietnam, whose economy relies heavily on agriculture and exports, antibiotic resistance creates additional burdens. In particular, it risks trapping many in a cycle of poverty, exacerbating economic harm and increasing the strain on families and patients.
Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass emphasised this concern during a press conference on November 22 in Hanoi, held to introduce the Community Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The event coincided with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, observed globally from November 18 to 24.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan noted that despite scientific advances over the past decade, antibiotic resistance remains a pressing concern in Vietnam.
The Community Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance programme, running from November 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028, is part of Vietnam’s national strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance for 2023–2030. The initiative urges citizens to act responsibly in preventing antibiotic resistance to safeguard society and future generations.
Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, warned that ineffective treatments such as antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungal drugs are losing their effectiveness due to increasing resistance, leading to prolonged illnesses, higher treatment costs, and, in severe cases, preventable deaths.
Antibiotic resistance poses a global challenge, placing a strain on the effectiveness of new treatments, and is akin to a silent pandemic. This issue is not confined to one country but is interconnected across nations.
Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those living in poverty, face higher risks of infections and barriers to accessing healthcare. Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, stressed the importance of using antibiotics responsibly, with Switzerland pledging strong support for antibiotic resistance programmes as part of its commitment to responsible pharmaceutical production.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 2020 and 2023, Vietnam reported approximately 269,681 deaths linked to antibiotic resistance. Misuse of antibiotics—such as overuse, sales without prescriptions, and improper medical guidance—has driven resistance rates in Vietnam to alarming levels.
Charaf Eddine Kadri, General Director of Sandoz Vietnam, explained that purchasing antibiotics without prescriptions for common ailments, such as colds, leads to improper use. This misuse increases adverse effects and diminishes antibiotics' effectiveness against previously treatable infections. This will lead to a vicious cycle where stronger antibiotics must be used to treat infections that were once easily manageable, even for children./.
