Jakarta, September 3, 2024 - The growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to public and animal health. AMR causes higher medical costs and jeopardizes national goals for disease control and food security.
In response, the Indonesian government has established a national policy for controlling AMR through the Regulation of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture No. 7/2021, which discusses the National Action Plan for Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance (RAN PRA) 2020-2024 by adopting the One Health approach. The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) released the results of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of RAN PRA 2020-2024, in Jakarta, on Tuesday (3/9/2024).
This comprehensive M&E process has been implemented in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with support from the European Union (EU), through a series of meetings with the AMR control task force working group involving various ministries and institutions.
Acting Deputy for Coordination of Health Quality Improvement and Population Development, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, R. Nunung Nuryartono, stated that the implementation of the RAN PRA so far has achieved positive results in the majority of target indicators in efforts to control AMR. "This shows Indonesia's significant and ongoing efforts in dealing with AMR in the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors through the One Health approach," said Nunung.
According to Deputy Nunung, this achievement is very meaningful considering the complex challenges in achieving sustainable and comprehensive AMR control. "These results need to be improved again, especially in controlling AMR in the health sector. In general, the implementation of the 2020-2024 RAN PRA has reflected Indonesia's strong commitment to improving AMR control through mitigation measures against the risk of AMR dangers in the future," said Nunung.
The Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, who in this case was represented by the Director of Animal Health, Imron Suandy, highlighted the vital role of animal health in the AMR control strategy through the One Health approach. "Progress in dealing with AMR in animal health is evidence of our caring efforts in protecting the community in a sustainable manner. Through the implementation of strict regulations and policies, with the support of the private sector, both in the veterinary medicine industry and the commercial poultry industry, we can accelerate the prevention of the spread of AMR from animals," said Imron.
Imron explained that he witnessed how the impact of the Antibiotic Growth Promoter (AGP) & colistin ban regulation in commercial poultry farms, had an impact on reducing resistance and levels of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) or enzymes that cause bacteria to become resistant to antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) in farms. This is supported by the industry's awareness to always improve practices, especially in terms of reducing the use of antimicrobials for prophylaxis and increasing the implementation of biosecurity to prevent infections. "This progress shows our commitment to effective AMR control and highlights the success of our comprehensive strategy within the One Health framework," added Imron.
Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Dr. Azhar Jaya, acknowledged the progress and challenges of AMR control in the human health sector. "Although we have made some progress in controlling AMR, these results show several key areas that require more focused attention. The reduction in ESBL cases and rational use of antimicrobials in health facilities have not reached our targets. We are committed to addressing these challenges through the newly launched National Strategy for AMR Control for the human health sector, which will form the basis for our next cross-sectoral National Action Plan. By strengthening collaboration with various stakeholders, we aim to significantly improve AMR control in Indonesia," said Azhar.
FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Rajendra Aryal, commended Indonesia's steadfast commitment to combating AMR in a sustainable manner. "These promising results reflect the effectiveness of a collaborative approach within the One Health framework and underscore the critical role of continued engagement of all relevant stakeholders in advancing AMR control. FAO is pleased to support this effort and celebrate the country's progress towards a safer and healthier future through proactive AMR management," said Aryal.
WHO Representative to Indonesia, Dr. N. Paranietharan, highlighted that the newly launched National Strategy for AMR Control for the human health sector will strengthen the One Health approach. “This strategy reinforces Indonesia’s commitment to a collaborative approach, which is essential for us to effectively address the global threat of AMR. WHO appreciates Indonesia’s leadership, and will continue to be dedicated in supporting this collective effort,” Paranietharan said.
The meeting also emphasized key actions by all stakeholders, including strengthening national surveillance and sharing of AMR data, scaling up AMR control from the central to local levels with clear guidelines, and integrating AMR control into national development plans to promote effective control measures.