SUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 487: Spm. om den danske målsætning i forhold til antibiotikaresistens er knyttet sammen med en større EU-indsats på området, til sundhedsministeren

Sundheds- og Ældreudvalget 2017-18
SUU Alm.del
Offentligt

A European

One Health

Action Plan

against

Antimicrobial

Resistance

(AMR)

CONTENTS

1.1

1.2

THE NEED FOR EU ACTION AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL

RESISTANCE (AMR)

...........................................................................................................................3

STATE OF PLAY...........................................................................................................................................................3

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND WAY FORWARD........................................................................................5

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

MAKING THE EU A

BEST PRACTICE REGION.....

........................................................................................................6

BETTER EVIDENCE AND AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES OF AMR ........................................7

BETTER COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EU RULES TO TACKLE AMR.................8

BETTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AMR......................................................................................10

BETTER ADDRESSING THE ROLE OF THE ENVIRONMENT................................................................11

A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AMR AND BETTER AVAILABILITY OF

ANTIMICROBIALS...................................................................................................................................................12

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

BOOSTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT

AND INNOVATION ON AMR

.....................................................................................................13

IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE ON DETECTION, EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL AND

SURVEILLANCE........................................................................................................................................................13

DEVELOP NEW THERAPEUTICS AND ALTERNATIVES.........................................................................14

DEVELOP NEW PREVENTIVE VACCINES....................................................................................................15

DEVELOP NOVEL DIAGNOSTICS....................................................................................................................15

DEVELOP NEW ECONOMIC MODELS AND INCENTIVES....................................................................16

CLOSE KNOWLEDGE GAPS ON AMR IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ON HOW

TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION..........................................................................................................................17

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

SHAPING THE GLOBAL AGENDA

.........................................................................................18

A STRONGER EU GLOBAL PRESENCE..........................................................................................................18

STRONGER BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR STRONGER COOPERATION.................................19

COOPERATING WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES....................................................................................20

DEVELOPING A GLOBAL RESEARCH AGENDA.........................................................................................20

MEASURING SUCCESS

................................................................................................................21

CONCLUSION

.....................................................................................................................................22

THE NEED FOR EU ACTION AGAINST

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

1.1

STATE OF PLAY

Since penicillin was first discovered in 1928, life-saving antimicrobials have revolutionised our

society and economy. Previously deadly diseases have become routine ailments, requiring little

more than a brief treatment. These achievements are now at risk mainly because of the excessive

or inappropriate use of antimicrobials, which has led to the increasing emergence and spread of

multi-resistant bacteria. Without effective action to reverse current trends, we could face a return

to the pre-antibiotic era, with simple wounds and infections causing significant harm and even

death and routine medical procedures becoming very high risk.

AMR is a serious challenge, in the EU and globally. According to the World Health Organization

(WHO)

, AMR has already reached alarming levels in many parts of the world. High levels of

Antimicrobials:

include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiprotozoals. They are active

Antimicrobial

substances of synthetic or natural origin which kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Used in

every-day medicine (e.g. urinary tract infections, surgery and care of premature babies), they are

vital to preventing and treating infections in humans and animals.

Antimicrobial resistance (AM

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR):

is the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, to become

increasingly resistant to an antimicrobial to which they were previously susceptible. AMR is a

consequence of natural selection and genetic mutation. Such mutation is then passed on conferring

resistance. This natural selection process is exacerbated by human factors such as inappropriate

use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine, poor hygiene conditions and practices in

healthcare settings or in the food chain facilitating the transmission of resistant microorganisms.

Over time, this makes antimicrobials less effective and ultimately useless.

AMR in bacteria linked to numerous common infections (e.g. urinary tract infections, pneumonia,

tuberculosis and gonorrhoea) have been observed in all WHO regions. Resistance to antivirals, such

as those used to treat HIV, is also increasing.

Global efforts include the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on AMR

and the 2015

WHO Global Action Plan on AMR

, which was subsequently adopted by the World Animal Health

Organisation (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). AMR has also been addressed

in the G7 and G20 forums.

http://www.who.int/entity/drugresistance/documents/surveillancereport/en/index.html

United Nations, 2016. Political Declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on antimicrobial resistance.

New York, USA.

WHA 68.7

http://www.wpro.who.int/entity/drug_resistance/resources/global_action_plan_eng.pdf

AMR already presents a serious social and economic burden. It is estimated to be responsible

for 25,000 deaths per year in the EU alone

and 700,000 deaths per year globally. Inaction is

projected to cause millions of deaths globally: it has been estimated that AMR might cause more

deaths than cancer

by 2050.

Apart from the human suffering caused by that development, AMR also pushes up the cost of

treatment and diminishes productivity due to illness. In the EU alone it is estimated that AMR

costs EUR 1.5 billion annually in healthcare costs and productivity losses

. The World Bank

has

warned that, by 2050, drug-resistant infections could cause global economic damage on a par with

the 2008 financial crisis. AMR also threatens the achievement of several of the United Nations’

sustainable development goals, particularly the targets for good health and well-being

(goal 3).

Effective action against the rise of AMR will mitigate its negative impact on the economy and can

therefore be considered a contribution to economic growth, to sustainable healthcare budgets by

reducing healthcare costs and to a productive and healthy population.

The EU was quick to recognise the importance of tackling AMR, as the 2001 Community strategy

against AMR

shows. This policy was reinforced with the 2011 Commission action plan

, notable

for its One Health approach, addressing AMR in both humans and animals.

Since 1999, the Commission has invested over EUR 1.3 billion in AMR research, making Europe a

leader in this domain. EU achievements include the launch of the New Drugs for Bad Bugs (ND4BB)

programme

, the world’s biggest public-private AMR research partnership, forming part of the

One Health:

is a term used to describe a principle which recognises that human and animal health

One Health

are interconnected, that diseases are transmitted from humans to animals and vice versa and must

therefore be tackled in both. The One Health approach also encompasses the environment, another

link between humans and animals and likewise a potential source of new resistant microorganisms.

This term is globally recognised, having been widely used in the EU and in the 2016 United Nations

Political Declaration on AMR.

Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

. The EU has also set up the Joint Programming Initiative on

AMR (JPIAMR)

which aims to better coordinate and align worldwide AMR research efforts.

Despite all this, incidences of infections resistant to multidrug therapies and last-resort treatments

have significantly increased in the EU

in recent years.

The development and spread of AMR in the environment is also a growing concern, requiring

further research. A number of scientific studies have identified the potential negative impacts of

resistant microorganisms or antimicrobials on the environment.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0909_TER_The_Bacterial_Challenge_Time_to_React.pdf

https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160525_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf

World Bank, 2016, ‘Drug-Resistant Infections: A Threat to Our Economic Future’, Washington, DC

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals

COM (2001) 333 final

COM (2011) 748

http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/nd4bb

http://www.imi.europa.eu

http://www.jpiamr.eu

Treatments that are tried after all other options have failed to produce an adequate response in the patient

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/antimicrobial-resistance-europe-2015.pdf

At the same time, the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of new antimicrobials

has significantly slowed down in the past 20 years. Historical data show a low success rate: only 1

out of 16 antibiotics from early-stage research reaches clinical application for patients

1.2

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND WAY FORWARD

In the face of regional and global AMR challenges, the EU stands at the forefront for addressing

AMR. However, no single action will, in isolation, provide an adequate solution. Resistant bacteria

and infectious diseases do not respect borders. No individual Member State or the EU can tackle

the problem on its own. The EU is nevertheless in a strong position to act given its high degree of

economic development, and commitment to a high level of human health protection.

As requested by the Member States, the Council conclusions of 17 June 2016

call for a new and

comprehensive EU action plan on AMR based on the One Health approach.

This new action plan builds on the 2011 action plan, its evaluation

, the feedback on the roadmap

and an open public consultation

The evaluation concluded that the 2011 action plan had clear EU added value, was a symbol of

political commitment, stimulated action within the Member States and strengthened international

cooperation. The evaluation also confirmed that the issues addressed in the 2011 plan are still

relevant today. However, initiatives need to be broadened, such as extending the One Health

approach to include the environment and tackling AMR more comprehensively on the basis of

improved data collection, monitoring and surveillance. Further support and assistance to EU

Member States to address differences and foster cooperation, more efficient and coordinated

research to improve knowledge and develop solutions, and a continued strong EU voice at global

level, were also recommended.

The roadmap on a new EU action plan on AMR received contributions from 22 stakeholders from

24 October 2016 to 28 March 2017. The open public consultation took place between 27 January

and 28 April 2017. It consisted of two separate online questionnaires: one for citizens and one

for administrations, associations and other organisations. In total 421 responses were received

from citizens and 163 from administrations, associations and other organisations. The synopsis

report accompanying this Communication provides an overview of the contributions received and

how they have been taken into account in defining concrete actions. Overall, the replies submitted

confirm the strong support for a new One Health action plan and the importance of a comprehensive

approach.

This new One Health action plan against AMR is motivated by the need for the EU to play a leading

role in the fight against AMR and to add value to Member States’ actions. Its overarching goal is to

preserve the possibility of effective treatment of infections in humans and animals. It provides a

framework for continued, more extensive action to reduce the emergence and spread of AMR and to

increase the development and availability of new effective antimicrobials inside and outside the EU.

15. Payne et al. Drugs for bad bugs: confronting the challenges of antibacterial discovery Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 6, 29-

40 (January 2007)

16.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/06/17-epsco-conclusions-antimicrobial-resistance

17. SWD(2016) 347 final

18.

http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2016_sante_176_action_plan_against_amr_en.pdf

19.

https://ec.europa.eu/health/amr/consultations/consultation_20170123_amr-new-action-plan_en

The key objectives of this new plan are built on three main pillars:

making the EU a best practice region: as the evaluation of the 2011 action plan highlighted,

this will require better evidence, better coordination and surveillance, and better control

measures. EU action will focus on key areas and help Member States in establishing,

implementing and monitoring their own national One Health action plans on AMR, which they

agreed to develop at the 2015 World Health Assembly

;

boosting research, development and innovation by closing current knowledge gaps, providing

novel solutions and tools to prevent and treat infectious diseases, and improving diagnosis in

order to control the spread of AMR;

intensifying EU efforts worldwide to shape the global agenda on AMR and the related risks in

an increasingly interconnected world.

The new plan contains concrete actions with EU added value that the Commission will develop and

strengthen as appropriate in the coming years. All these actions are important in themselves, but they

are also interdependent and need to be implemented in parallel in order to achieve the best outcome.

MAKING THE EU A BEST

PRACTICE REGION

Within the EU, the situation across Member States with regard to AMR varies greatly. This includes

patterns of antimicrobial use, occurrence of resistance, and the extent to which effective national

policies to deal with AMR have been implemented. In order to tackle this situation, the Commission

will concentrate on key areas with the highest added value for Member States, while respecting

the limits of EU competence and bearing in mind that Member States remain primarily responsible

for the definition of their health policies.

The Commission will continue to bring together all relevant EU scientific agencies – notably the

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the European

Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) – to jointly take appropriate actions. This will

enable Member States to benefit from the most effective support and resources for reducing

AMR and preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials. Agencies’ supportive actions will include

infection prevention, biosecurity measures and control practices in human healthcare and in animal

husbandry, including aquaculture, in order to reduce infections and thus the need for antimicrobials.

EU actions will focus on the areas with the highest added value for Member States, e.g. promoting

the prudent use of antimicrobials, enhancing cross-sectorial work, improving infection prevention

and consolidating surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial consumption.

20. World Health Organization, 2015. 68th World Health Assembly: WHA resolution 68.7. Geneva, Switzerland; the commitment

to have national AMR action plans in place before mid-2017 was confirmed in the Council conclusions on the next steps

under a One Health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance.

2.1

BETTER EVIDENCE AND AWARENESS OF THE

CHALLENGES OF AMR

Strengthen One Health surveillance and reporting of AMR and antimicrobial use

Resistant microorganisms exist in humans, animals, food, and the environment. This makes AMR

a complex epidemiological issue. The main cause of AMR is antimicrobial use. A comprehensive,

collaborative and coordinated collection and analysis of data from multiple domains, i.e. a One

Health AMR surveillance system, is therefore essential to understand the magnitude of the problem,

identify trends, determine how the use of antimicrobials and AMR are linked, evaluate policies

and set priorities. Although in the EU a wide range of surveillance programmes and activities

across different sectors exist, gaps in surveillance remain. A more integrated surveillance system

is needed to have a complete picture of the AMR epidemiological situation in the EU and to better

identify critical control points. In the animal health area, a new regulatory framework (Animal

Health Law

), offers a better basis to develop detailed rules for controlling resistant bacteria.

The Commission will:

▶

review EU implementing legislation on monitoring AMR in zoonotic and commensal bacteria

in farm animals and food

, to take into account new scientific developments and data

collection needs;

review EU implementing legislation on reporting communicable diseases in humans

to take

into account new scientific developments and data collection needs;

identify and assess under the Animal Health Law and with the support of the EFSA, resistant

bacteria that cause transmissible animal diseases and, if necessary, develop harmonised

rules for their surveillance;

improve AMR detection in the human health sector by providing EU support for networking

collaboration and reference laboratory activities;

consider options for the harmonised monitoring of AMR in the environment, including through

the network of national reference laboratories in the veterinary sector.

▶

Benefit from the best evidence-based analysis and data

High-quality research, data and analysis are crucial as a basis for new measures against AMR and

to help policymakers improve existing measures. Some information is already available to Member

States, but additional reliable information needs to be generated.

21. Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases

and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’), OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p.1.

22. Commission Implementing Decision 2013/652/EU of 12 November 2013 on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial

resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria, OJ L 303, 14.11.2013, p. 26.

23. Commission Decision 2002/253/EC of 19 March 2002 laying down case definitions for reporting communicable diseases to the

Community network under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 86, 3.4.2002, p. 44.

The Commission will:

▶

provide evidence-based data, with the support of the ECDC, the EMA and the EFSA, on possible

links between the consumption of antimicrobial agents and the occurrence of antimicrobial

resistance in humans and food-producing animals;

define, with the support of the ECDC, the EMA and the EFSA, a limited number of key outcome

indicators for AMR and antimicrobial consumption to measure the EU’s and Member States’

progress in the fight against AMR;

develop, with the support of the OECD, a model aimed at helping Member States to assess

the economic burden of AMR imposes on people and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of

their national policies to reduce it.

▶

Increase awareness and understanding

Several Eurobarometer surveys on AMR carried out since 2010

show that the level of awareness

of the relationship between the use of antimicrobials and the development and spread of AMR is

still low. This is a major cause for the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in humans and animals.

More must be done to raise awareness and education about AMR. EU-level communication initiatives

should support Member States in improving public and professional understanding of AMR, promote

prudent use and support more informed clinical decision-making and judicious prescribing.

The Commission will:

▶

provide insights into reported public use of and knowledge about antimicrobials through

Eurobarometer surveys;

support Member States’ national awareness-raising efforts with specific communication tools

targeting key audiences and contribute to the annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD).

▶

2.2

BETTER COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

OF EU RULES TO TACKLE AMR

Improve the coordination of Member States’ One Health responses to AMR

With AMR on the rise in the EU, it is vital to ensure that lessons learnt from successful strategies

are made accessible to all Member States. To deal with the cross-border health threat of AMR

, it

is crucial to identify and share best practices and policies, so that a lack of action in one region or

24. Special Eurobarometer 338 (April 2010), Special Eurobarometer 407 (November 2013) and Special Eurobarometer 445

(June 2016)

25. Decision 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on serious cross-border threats

to health and repealing Decision 2119/98/EC, OJ L 293, 5.11.2013, p.1

sector does not undermine progress made in others. To assist with and accelerate this collaboration,

in early 2017 the Commission set up an AMR One Health network of government experts from

the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, as well as the EU scientific agencies

working in the human and animal health sectors (ECDC, EMA, and EFSA). Within the AMR One

Health network, its members work towards facilitating mutual learning, sharing innovative ideas,

building consensus, comparing progress made in key areas and, where necessary, accelerating

national efforts to tackle AMR.

The Commission will:

▶

make available regular information on AMR in the context of the AMR One Health network,

which gives an overview of the AMR epidemiological situation at Member State and EU level;

support the implementation of national One Health action plans against AMR through joint

Commission and the ECDC visits to Member States upon request;

launch a joint action

to support collaborative activities and policy development by Member

States to tackle AMR and healthcare-associated infections;

make increased use of the EU Health Security Committee and the Commission Working Group

on AMR in the veterinary and food areas to strengthen coordination and to share information;

seek to co-fund and collaborate with the WHO on activities to help EU Member States develop

and implement national One Health action plans against AMR.

▶

Better implementation of EU rules

In order to deliver long-lasting results and create the necessary impetus, it is important that the

EU legislation related to AMR (e.g. rules on AMR monitoring in food-producing animals, on use

of veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed) is adequately implemented. This implies

properly training of Member States’ staff involved in official control activities and keeping them up

to date on all aspects of EU legislation related to AMR in order to ensure that controls are carried

out uniformly and objectively in all Member States.

The Commission will:

▶

assess the effectiveness of the implementation of EU legislation

on, inter alia, monitoring

AMR in food-producing animal populations and food by continuing to carry out regular audits

in Member States;

develop training programmes on AMR for Member State competent authorities under the

Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) initiative and for health professionals through the ECDC

and the EU health programme;

▶

26. JA-04-2016 - Antimicrobial resistance and Health Care Associated Infections

27. Commission Implementing Decision 2013/652/EU of 12 November 2013 on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial

resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria, OJ L 303, 14.11.2013, p. 26.

▶

advise Member States on the possibility to use the Structural Reform Support Service

(SRSS) funding to Member States for designing and implementing policies against AMR.

2.3

BETTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AMR

Strengthen infection prevention and control measures

Infection prevention, biosecurity measures and control practices are critical in the control of

all infectious microorganisms as they reduce the need for antimicrobials and consequently the

opportunity for microorganisms to develop and spread resistance.

The availability of new and more coherent surveillance data, research and technologies will inform

innovative approaches and improvements in infection prevention and control measures. Other

control measures, such as vaccination, could also reduce the occurrence and spread of certain

diseases, limiting the need for antimicrobials. In addition, immunisation through vaccination is a

cost-effective public health intervention with proven economic benefits

The Commission will:

▶

help to address patient safety in hospital environments by supporting good practices in

infection prevention and control;

support activities jointly funded by the EU and Member States for infection prevention and

control in vulnerable groups, in particular to tackle resistant tuberculosis strains;

promote the uptake of vaccination in humans as a public health measure to prevent infections

and subsequent use of antimicrobials;

continue to promote animal husbandry, including aquaculture and livestock farming systems,

and feeding regimes, which support good animal health and welfare to reduce antimicrobial

consumption.

▶

Promote the prudent use of antimicrobials

The appropriate and prudent use of antimicrobials is essential to limiting the emergence of AMR

in human healthcare and in animal husbandry.

Cross-sectorial and coordinated actions to promote the prudent use of antimicrobials in humans

and animals are necessary to slow down the development of AMR and preserve the effectiveness

of antimicrobials. Such actions, often referred to as ‘antimicrobial stewardship’ actions, are in place

in some sectors (e.g. EU guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine

)

but are not sufficiently developed for all situations in which antimicrobials are used.

28.

29.

http://www.gavi.org/about/value/

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52015XC0911(01)&from=EN

The Commission will:

▶

work towards EU implementing and delegated acts under the forthcoming veterinary

medicinal products and medicated feed Regulations (once adopted by the European

Parliament and the Council)

, including rules on reserving antimicrobials for human use,

drawing up a list of antimicrobials that cannot be used off-label, and methods for data

gathering and reporting on the sales and use of antimicrobials;

develop EU guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in human medicine;

assist Member States implement EU guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in

veterinary medicine, including identifying and disseminating good practices;

encourage the EMA to review all available information on the benefits and risks of older

antimicrobial agents and consider whether any changes to their approved uses in the Member

States are required.

▶

2.4

BETTER ADDRESSING THE ROLE OF THE

ENVIRONMENT

The environment is increasingly acknowledged as a contributor to the development and spread

of AMR in humans and animals, in particular in high risk areas due to human, animal and

manufacturing waste streams, but strong evidence is still required to better inform decision-

making in this area. Specific actions to improve the knowledge base are considered in section 3.

Once relevant monitoring and research data become available, risk assessment methodologies

should be developed to evaluate the risks to human and animal health.

The Commission will:

▶

adopt an EU strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment

;

maximise the use of data from existing monitoring, e.g. Watch List monitoring under the Water

Framework Directive

, to improve knowledge of the occurrence and spread of antimicrobials

in the environment, including by using the Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring

(IPCheM) to access relevant monitoring data

;

reinforce the role of the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) in

providing the expertise on environment-related AMR issues.

▶

30. COM(2014) 558 final, COM(2014) 556 final

31. Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 amending Directives 2000/60/EC

and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy, OJ L 226, 24.8.2013, p. 1

32. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Com

munity action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1

33.

https://ipchem.jrc.ec.europa.eu/RDSIdiscovery/ipchem/index.html

2.5

A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AMR AND

BETTER AVAILABILITY OF ANTIMICROBIALS

Actions against AMR cannot succeed without the sustained involvement of stakeholders,

including industry, civil society, academia, and non-governmental experts but also the European

Economic and Social Committee (EESC), throughout policy development and implementation. The

Commission takes note of existing commitments and collaborative efforts such as the declaration

by the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics industries on combating AMR

. It provides

a roadmap for further collaboration efforts between industry, governments and non-governmental

organisations in the global fight against AMR. In line with this initiative, regular discussions among

stakeholders will encourage them to develop and share their strategies against AMR. Cooperation

with industry is also crucial to promote the development of other promising alternatives to

antimicrobials and to address reduced availability issues, including antimicrobial withdrawals from

the market that may lead to antimicrobial shortages and inadequate replacement treatments.

It is also crucial to prevent falsified or counterfeit antimicrobial products from entering the supply

chain and harming humans or animals.

The Commission will:

▶

engage with and support collaboration among key stakeholders in the human

health, animal health, food, water and environmental sectors to encourage

the responsible use of antimicrobials in the healthcare sector and along

the food chain, as well as the appropriate handling of waste material;

work with stakeholders to ensure the availability of human and veterinary antimicrobials

and continued access to established products; provide incentives to increase the uptake of

diagnostics, antimicrobial alternatives and vaccines;

reduce the scope for falsified medicines by assisting Member States and stakeholders in the

successful implementation of the safety features (unique identifier) that will appear by 2019

on the packaging of medicinal products for human use

;

discuss the availability of veterinary antimicrobials to tackle AMR in the Veterinary

Pharmaceutical Committee.

▶

http://www.ifpma.org/partners-2/declaration-by-the-pharmaceutical-biotechnology-and-diagnostics-industries-on-combat-

ing-antimicrobial-resistance-amr/

35. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161 of 2 October 2015 supplementing Directive 2001/83/EC of the European

Parliament and of the Council by laying down detailed rules for the safety features appearing on the packaging of medicinal

products for human use, OJ L 32, 9 February 2016, p. 1.

34.

BOOSTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT

AND INNOVATION ON AMR

Research, development (R&D) and innovation can provide novel solutions and tools to prevent and

treat infectious diseases, improve diagnosis and control the spread of AMR. This One Health action

plan not only aims to boost research, but also to further incentivise innovation, provide valuable

input into science-based policies and legal measures to combat AMR and address knowledge gaps

such as the role of AMR in the environment.

The proposed AMR research strategy covers the full One Health spectrum, addressing human and

animal health as well as the role of the environment. It takes into account the priorities set out

in the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR, the JPIAMR and national action plans. The Commission

will work in partnerships with Member States and industry, including small and medium-sized

enterprises (SMEs) and the IMI, to tackle AMR in bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Special

attention will be given to the WHO priority list of pathogens as well as to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS,

malaria and neglected infectious diseases. Using different funding instruments and partnerships

under its current and future framework programmes for research and innovation, the Commission

will focus on the following actions.

3.1

IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE ON DETECTION, EFFECTIVE

INFECTION CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE

Greater efforts are needed to better understand the epidemiology, emergence, prevalence and

burden of infectious diseases, to further investigate how resistance develops and spreads, to

improve early detection; and to better understand AMR-related challenges in the European

healthcare, animal husbandry and food production sectors.

Technology today enables to collect and use data from the healthcare (hospitals, health centres,

laboratories, etc.) and agri-food sectors but also from society in general (the internet of Things,

social networks, etc.). Combining these data makes it possible to detect disease outbreaks much

earlier and helps to understand how infectious diseases are transmitted. The development of IT

solutions for such operations has great potential to improve surveillance, prescription practices,

self-management of health, care solutions, and awareness of AMR.

The Commission will:

▶

support research into the development and assessment of interventions that prevent the

development and spread of AMR in different settings such as hospitals, communities and

animal husbandry;

▶

support research into understanding the epidemiology of AMR, in particular the pathways of

transmission between animals and humans, and their impact;

support research into the development of new tools for early (real-time) detection of resistant

pathogens in humans and animals, taking account of advances in IT solutions;

support research into new eHealth solutions to improve prescription practices, self-

management of health, care solutions, and improve awareness of AMR.

▶

3.2

DEVELOP NEW THERAPEUTICS AND ALTERNATIVES

Despite great efforts made in the past years, including through public-private partnerships, there

are not enough antimicrobials in the pipeline to meet expected needs. The spread of AMR has also

contributed to the declining effectiveness of existing antimicrobials. More research is needed to

develop new medicinal products, therapeutics and alternative treatments, as well as innovative

anti-infective approaches and products for humans and animals. More research is also needed

to advance the repurposing of old antimicrobials, improving their activity and to develop new

combination therapies, including those to treat multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Digital

technologies for testing biomedical products and innovation in eHealth should also be scaled up,

e.g. by supporting innovation procurement

as well as supporting SMEs.

The Commission will:

▶

support research into the development of new antimicrobials and alternative products for

humans and animals as well as the repurposing of old antimicrobials or the development of

new combination therapies;

support SMEs in their R&D efforts towards innovative and/or alternative therapeutic

approaches for the treatment or prevention of bacterial infections, together with the EMA;

facilitate sharing of antimicrobial research data among relevant stakeholders

to guide

future antimicrobial medicinal product discovery and development;

support the establishment of a European-wide sustainable clinical research network, which

should speed up clinical studies on medicinal products, lower their costs, and improve

coordination of clinical research;

support research and innovation to promote the use of digital technologies supporting the

development of new therapeutics and alternatives.

▶

36.

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/innovation-procurement

37. Such as researchers in academia and industry, regulators, etc.

3.3

DEVELOP NEW PREVENTIVE VACCINES

Vaccines have proven to be crucial and very cost-effective in preventing the onset and spread of

infectious diseases. They also have great potential to reduce the incidence of AMR. For example

universal coverage by a pneumococcal vaccine could not only save many of the estimated 800,000

children who die each year of pneumonia, it would also reduce by an estimated 47% the use of

antimicrobials, counteracting the development of AMR. Vaccines already play an important role

in preventing disease in farm animals and aquaculture. This should be boosted even further to

decrease the use of antimicrobials in those sectors.

The Commission will:

▶

continue to support research into the development of new effective preventive vaccines for

humans and animals;

support increasing the knowledge base concerning the barriers that influence the wider use

of vaccination in medical and veterinary practice.

▶

3.4

DEVELOP NOVEL DIAGNOSTICS

Novel, rapid and reliable diagnostics are crucial for differentiating between bacterial and viral

infections and identifying AMR, so that the most appropriate treatment can be given in a timely

manner. By tailoring the treatment to the nature of the infectious pathogen and its resistance

pattern, diagnostics help reduce the unnecessary use of antimicrobials in humans and animals.

Such novel diagnostics are in the process of entering the market but more tests are needed to

guide a more efficient use of existing antimicrobials in the human and animal health sectors.

Novel diagnostics will also make it possible to recruit the right patients in clinical trials for new

treatments, making the trials more efficient.

The Commission will:

▶

support research into the development of new diagnostic tools in particular on-site tests in

humans and animals to guide practitioners regarding the use of antimicrobials;

support the use of IT solutions in developing tools for diagnosing human and animal infections;

encourage the uptake of diagnostics in medical and veterinary practice, e.g. through innovation

procurement.

▶

3.5

DEVELOP NEW ECONOMIC MODELS AND INCENTIVES

Developing new antimicrobials or alternative therapies requires significant and long-term

investments. In the classic business model, pharmaceutical companies recuperate research and

development investments selling large volumes of their medicinal products. However, when any

new antimicrobial treatment enters the market and is sold and used in large quantities, resistance

can be expected to develop quickly. As the use of new antimicrobials needs to be restricted to

minimise the risk of resistance development, the current business model results in a market failure

for antimicrobials, and works against efforts to conserve effective antimicrobials.

New economic models need to be developed to incentivise antimicrobial discovery and development

while reconciling these incentives with responsible use. Similarly, in the diagnostics sector, the

development and uptake of novel diagnostics requires new models that take account of the

relatively high price of diagnostics compared to the currently low price of antimicrobials. Such

models would need to reflect the long-term benefit of these medicinal products and the societal

value of limiting the use of antimicrobials while promoting the use of novel diagnostics. This would

be in line with the increasing trend of developing new therapies combined with a diagnostic.

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methods to evaluate the added value of such new technologies

and economic analysis to understand the costs and benefits of different investments to fight AMR

are needed to provide an evidence base for the uptake of interventions in the healthcare system

and services. The involvement of HTA bodies in AMR-related discussions could raise their awareness

on AMR when assessing the added value of new antimicrobials and alternatives, diagnostics or a

combination thereof.

The Commission will:

▶

increase the evidence base for understanding the societal costs and benefits of different

strategies for fighting AMR, including understanding factors that influence the uptake of

interventions such as novel diagnostics or preventive measures;

support research into the development of new economic models, exploring and analysing

incentives to boost the development of new therapeutics, alternatives, vaccines and

diagnostics;

analyse EU regulatory tools and incentives – in particular orphan and paediatric legislation

– to use them for novel antimicrobials and innovative alternative medicinal products (e.g.

vaccines, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral agents) that currently do not generate sufficient

returns on investment;

encourage Member States to explore results and recommendations of EU research projects

on new economic business models;

develop new or improved methodological HTA approaches and foster methodological

consensus-building. This could benefit the development of combinations of technologies and

co-dependent technologies including in the area of AMR.

▶

3.6

CLOSE KNOWLEDGE GAPS ON AMR IN THE

ENVIRONMENT AND ON HOW TO PREVENT

TRANSMISSION

AMR is a good example of a One Health matter in which human health is connected to that of

animals and the environment. Only a multidisciplinary effort can provide an adequate response.

There is a major lack of knowledge about the release and spread of resistant organisms in the

environment and the threats and risks this poses to human and animal health. For example,

the release of antimicrobials into the environment through human, animal and manufacturing

waste streams should be assessed and new technologies developed to enable efficient and rapid

degradation of antimicrobials in wastewater treatment plants, organic waste streams or the

environment.

The feasibility and implementation of monitoring programmes need to be further studied, including

the development of harmonised monitoring of antimicrobials and microorganisms resistant

against antimicrobials in the environment. Using harmonised monitoring and research data, risk

assessment methodologies should be developed to evaluate risks to human and animal health. In

the agri-food sector, the links between farming practices, animal health and AMR development and

spread need to be further investigated.

The Commission will:

▶

support research into knowledge gaps on the release of resistant microorganisms and

antimicrobials into the environment and their spread;

explore risk assessment methodologies, with the support of scientific agencies and bodies,

and use them to evaluate the risks to human and animal health from the presence of

antimicrobials in the environment;

support research into and the development of new tools for monitoring antimicrobials and

microorganisms resistant against antimicrobials in the environment;

support the development of technologies that enable efficient and rapid degradation of

antimicrobials in wastewater and the environment and reduce the spread of AMR.

▶

SHAPING THE GLOBAL AGENDA

The EU and its Member States are part of an increasingly interconnected world characterised by

an intensive exchange of people and commodities where policies implemented in one region can

have significant impacts elsewhere.

The spread of AMR across borders has been recognised globally and areas for action have been

internationally agreed and outlined in the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR, which serves as the

global blue-print for AMR activities and has been endorsed by the OIE and the FAO. The Political

Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly of 21 September 2016 committed high-level

support to the international implementation of the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR.

The evaluation of the 2011 EU action plan recognised the positive effects of EU interventions at

global level. Continued effort is necessary and is outlined below.

4.1

A STRONGER EU GLOBAL PRESENCE

Many of the EU’s domestic AMR policies (e.g. the ban on using antimicrobials as growth promoters

in feed for food-producing animals) are already contributing to the achievement of international

objectives against AMR. Nevertheless, it continues to develop and spread across the world. EU

involvement and collaboration with multilateral organisations such as the WHO, the OIE, the FAO

and international forums should therefore be intensified in order to contribute to regional and

global action on AMR, following the One Health approach.

The Commission will:

▶

continue to actively contribute to the normative work of the WHO, the OIE, the FAO, and

the Codex Alimentarius on the development of ambitious international frameworks and

standards/norms/guidelines/methodologies related to AMR;

reinforce technical cooperation with the WHO and its members in key areas of the WHO

Global Action Plan on AMR (e.g. the development of monitoring systems under the WHO

Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), awareness-raising, infection

prevention and control);

boost support for the International Conference on the Harmonisation of Technical Requirements

for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and the Veterinary International

Conference on the Harmonisation (VICH) on relevant international guidelines/standards/

norms related to AMR;

work towards continued high-level political attention and commitment to AMR action,

including in the United Nations forums, the G7 and the G20;

▶

▶

look for synergies with the UN Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management’s

work on the emerging policy issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment

;

analyse the feasibility of setting up a global AMR clinical studies network in collaboration

with G7 members

;

continue and strengthen ongoing collaboration within the Transatlantic Taskforce on

Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR), which includes the EU, the USA, Canada, and Norway;

promote international regulatory convergence between the EMA and other regulatory

agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Japan Pharmaceuticals

and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) on development plans for new promising antimicrobials.

▶

4.2

STRONGER BILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR STRONGER

COOPERATION

The EU has gained valuable expertise and experience in relation to AMR, while some of its trading

partners have taken different approaches and chosen different priorities in this regard. There is

scope for more collaboration and closer ties with these partners to build consensual activities,

share experiences and align approaches, for the benefit of all sides. Candidate countries and

potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy have also made commitments

regarding alignment and implementation of EU legislation related to AMR, as have the neighbouring

countries to which the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) applies or who have an Association

Agreement with the EU. The Commission – with the help of EU agencies – will continue to support

these countries through visits, best practice exchanges and capacity building.

As one of the largest markets for agricultural products, the EU can play a major role in promoting

its AMR-related standards, measures in food production, and standards on animal welfare, e.g.

through its bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The systematic inclusion of AMR-related

provisions is now a current practice for the Commission in all new FTAs. Further actions may also

be considered to ensure a level playing field between EU producers and EU trading partners, e.g. so

that efforts made by EU farmers are not compromised by the non-prudent use of antimicrobials

in EU trading partners. This could include linking concessions made to EU trading partners with

compliance with specific EU AMR policy objectives.

The Commission will:

▶

advocate EU standards and measures for tackling AMR in trade agreements and incorporate

them into cooperative arrangements in trade agreements;

engage with major global players and strategic countries (e.g. Brazil, China, India),

contributing towards achieving objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR by sharing

experiences, advocating best practices and thus stimulating actions outside the EU;

▶

38.

39.

http://www.saicm.org/EmergingPolicyIssues/Pharmaceuticalnbsp;Pollutants/tabid/5477/language/en-US/Default.aspx

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/seisakunitsuite/bunya/hokabunya/kokusai/g7kobe/KobeCommunique_en.pdf

▶

support EU candidate countries, potential candidate countries and neighbouring countries to

which the ENP applies in the alignment with, and capacity building for the implementation of

EU legislation related to AMR and EU standards;

invite the European Parliament, Member States and stakeholders to share views on actions

to be taken to ensure that efforts to combat AMR made by EU producers, including farmers,

do not place them at a competitive disadvantage.

▶

4.3

COOPERATING WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The AMR threat to public health and the social and economic burden it entails is even greater in

developing countries. This is due to political, social, epidemiological and economic factors which

may vary from those in developed countries. The EU’s development policy can play an important

role in raising awareness, sharing experiences and supporting capacity building in developing

countries in order for them to be better equipped to control infectious diseases and prevent AMR.

This process can be supported through dialogue, aid and cooperation activities, taking account

of partner countries’ individual policy priorities to strengthen health systems and implement

the sustainable development goals, in particular the third goal on good health and well-being.

Particular attention should be given to lower income countries, where support is most needed.

The Commission will:

▶

continue to contribute to reducing AMR in least developed countries through infectious

disease programmes such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI);

assist in the development of AMR strategies in the areas of food safety and animal health

through regional training workshops on AMR organised under the BTSF World initiative;

support partner countries’ policy initiatives on AMR, where appropriate, through international

cooperation and development instruments (e.g. Global Public Goods & Challenges, the

European Development Fund);

support the development of resilient health systems in partner countries, e.g. by strengthening

the knowledge and evidence base, infection prevention and control and the quality and use

of antimicrobials.

▶

4.4

DEVELOPING A GLOBAL RESEARCH AGENDA

A stronger, more interconnected and more globally oriented AMR research environment is needed.

There are great benefits to be gained from further coordination between the European research

agenda and its global counterparts. Many international initiatives have been launched during the

last few years that would benefit from stronger collaboration in order to increase their impact, as

expressed by the G7

and G20

Health Ministers.

The Commission will:

▶

improve global coordination of research activities by promoting dialogue and collaboration

between international research initiatives;

support the establishment of a virtual research institute under JPIAMR;

continue collaborative research with Sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the European and

Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) in particular in relation to tuberculosis,

HIV/AIDS, malaria and neglected infectious diseases;

foster international research collaboration on AMR in the animal health sector in the STAR-

IDAZ International Research Consortium

▶

MEASURING SUCCESS

To obtain the desired effect, it will be important to closely monitor the effectiveness and performance

of certain key actions under this action plan at regular intervals and to modify them if necessary.

The WHO, the OIE, the FAO, and the Codex Alimentarius are setting up systems and developing

standards to monitor global effects.

The EU systems will measure EU and Member State effects. This can be done by determining

a limited number of key outcome indicators, based on data already collected. These indicators

will be developed with the support of the EU scientific agencies (see point 2.1) and will enable

Member States to assess, in a clear and simple way, the progress made in the implementation of

their national One Health action plans on AMR. The indicators will also help Member States to set

measurable goals to reduce infections by key antimicrobial resistant microorganisms in humans

and food-producing animals, to improve the appropriateness of the use of antimicrobials in the

human and veterinary sectors and to combat AMR in all sectors.

This progress will be discussed at regular intervals in the One Health network on AMR, to guide

individual Member States and to determine if new actions are needed at EU level.

https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/fileadmin/Dateien/3_Downloads/G/G20-Gesundheitsminis-

tertreffen/G20_Health_Ministers_Declaration_engl.pdf

http://www.star-idaz.net//

CONCLUSION

This Communication provides a framework for future actions against AMR and aims to make the

best possible use of the EU legal framework and policy instruments, focusing on the real added

value the EU can bring to the fight against AMR.

Most of the actions can be done by adapting and reinforcing existing actions for a more integrated,

comprehensive and effective approach to combating AMR. Other actions focus on identified gaps

in the EU response so far that requires new activities, the discovery of new knowledge and the

creation of new partnerships.

The Commission is confident that this new One Health action plan can make a difference and will

improve the EU performance in combatting AMR.

The action plan will strengthen collaboration and surveillance, will reduce data gaps and allow for

the sharing of best practices within the EU. It will create more synergies and coherence between

different policies according to the One Health approach. The action plan will thus support the EU

and its Member States in delivering innovative, effective and sustainable responses to AMR.

The action plan will also strategically reinforce the research agenda on AMR and actively promote

global action.

The Commission invites the European Parliament and the Council to endorse this One Health action

plan and calls on Member States and all those involved to ensure that measures to combat AMR

are swiftly implemented. Only sustained ambition, continued commitment and concerted action

can turn the tide and diminish this global threat.

SUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 487: Spm. om den danske målsætning i forhold til antibiotikaresistens er knyttet sammen med en større EU-indsats på området, til sundhedsministeren SUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 487: Spm. om den danske målsætning i forhold til antibiotikaresistens er knyttet sammen med en større EU-indsats på området, til sundhedsministeren