Hanoi (VNA) – The overuse and misuse of antibiotics by consumers are regarded as key drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnam, according to Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative to Vietnam.
In an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency’s reporter, Dr. Park stressed that the AMR situation in Vietnam is “alarming”.
“Recent findings from Vietnam’s antimicrobial resistance surveillance report based on data collected from 16 sentinel hospitals in 2019, showing about 82 percent of Acinetobacter bacteria became outsmart carbapenems.”
Self-medication behaviours among the public and the accessibility of antibiotics over-the counter without prescription are blamed to the misuse and overuse of the drug, the WHO representative said.
Dispensing antibiotics without prescriptions is a matter of fact in Vietnam.
Studies in the northern Vietnam have revealed that 90 percent of pharmacies disregarded the Ministry of Health’s regulation by selling their antibiotics without prescription, Dr. Park said.
Thai Ngoc Tam, a resident in Mo Lao ward, Ha Dong district, said whenever she had a cough and felt unwell, she often went to the drug store in the neighbourhood to buy antibiotics.
“The pharmacist advised me the drug that can treat my illness. If I could not get recovery in a few days, I would change another kind of antibiotics and when things did not get better, I would go to see the doctor”, she said.
Over-the-counter sales of Antibiotic Uphaxim in a pharmacy in Ha Dong district (Photo: VNA)
Over-the counter antibiotics sales coupled with the misconception of public toward those durgs both of which implicated in the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.
A pharmacist in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, said she always asked her customers about prescriptions before selling antibiotics to them, but most of them did not have. However, she decided to let them get drugs or else she would lose customers.
Misuse of antimicrobials – serious threat to public health
Antibiotics are one of mankind’s most important discoveries. They allow human to survive serious bacterial infections. However, as human keep misusing and overusing antibiotics, they could be back to where they were a century ago, being at the mercy of pathogens and not surviving even routine infections, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
At a recent ceremony to launch the World Antimicrobial Awareness (WAAW) Advocacy Event for Vietnam, Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative to Vietnam said antimicrobial resistance poses a “fundamental threat” to human health and remains one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative to Vietnam, at the launching ceremony of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW). (Photo: VNA)
He stressed that global consumption of antibiotics in humans has risen in the past two decades, primarily driven by an increased use in low- and middle-income countries.
Antibiotics no longer perform miracle if they are overused or misused since superbugs mutate to resist antibiotics.
According to Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health’s Department for Medical Examination and Treatment Management Cao Hung Thai, AMR has been sparked by inappropriate use of antibiotics while the infection prevention work in Vietnam remains ineffective, resulting in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
AMR increases mortality rate, medical costs, as well as economic burden on families and societies, Hung underscored.
Vietnam moves to tackle growing antibiotic overuse
In 2021, the Ministry of Health issued numerous instructions on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, including guidelines on the use of antibiotics in bacterial superinfection treatment.
Besides, the ministry has arranged training courses and seminars on management of antibiotic use in hospitals.
The ministry is expected to the Government an AMR prevention strategy during 2022-2026.
Over the past two years, with the complicated situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, increasing people’s awareness about the use of antimicrobials with “five rights” applied: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time has been enhanced.
In 2013, Vietnam became the first country in the WHO’s Western Pacific Region to approve a national action plan to combat AMR.
Following approval of the national action plan to combat AMR during the 2013-2020 period, the Ministry of Health has joined hands with the WHO and competent agencies to carry out a wide range of activities to implement the plan.
One of the focuses is to raise public awareness of the global antimicrobial resistance, and to encourage best practices among the public, health workers and policy makers through the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) held annually from November 18-24.
The WHO representative to Vietnam also highly commended Vietnam’s efforts in the fight against AMR, including improving advocacy and awareness of patients and consumers on the rational use of antimicrobials.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is launched at the Green One UN House. (Photo: VNA)
WHO’s recommendations to prevent ARM
Since Vietnam is in an “alarming” ARM situation, Dr.Park highlighted the necessary to handle AMR from a multi-sectoral approach, describing it a “key for success” to fight the AMR.
This includes “coordination and collaboration across Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Trade and Industry, Natural Resources and Environment and others”.
Vietnam should strengthen its system for AMR surveillance and develop its system for monitoring antimicrobial consumption and use at national, hospital and community levels.
Although antimicrobial stewardship programmes have been established in the health sector, more data on antimicrobial consumption and use to guide policy making and guidelines are needed to optimise the use of antimicrobial medicines and address ARM effectively, he added./.
