On Friday 15 November 2019, just days before the Antibiotic Awareness Day and Week, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) will publish a special report on EU action to fight antimicrobial resistance.
ABOUT THE AUDIT
The ECA considered the rising threat of AMR and recent EU policy initiatives. In particular, the auditors examined how the EU has managed resources aimed at supporting Member States One Health approach to AMR and how it has contributed towards promoting the prudent use of antimicrobials in animals and food. They also looked at how the European Commission has supported AMR-related research.
The report is expected to acknowledge some progress, especially on veterinary issues. But it is also expected to conclude that there is still little evidence that the health burden of AMR has reduced. The auditors will make a number of recommendations to improve the EU response to AMR.
ABOUT THE TOPIC
AMR represents a serious threat to global health, development and food security. Ultimately, the fight against AMR consists of two main challenges: ensuring a more prudent and efficient use of existing antimicrobials, and discovering and making available new antimicrobials through R&D.
In 2017, following the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan, the European Commission adopted its “EU One Health Action Plan against AMR”, which contains actions relating to health, veterinary issues and the environment.
18 November 2019 is the European Antibiotic Awareness Day. It is also the starting point of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (18-24 November).
The ECA’s special reports set out the results of its audits of EU policies and programmes or management topics related to specific budgetary areas. The ECA selects and designs these audit tasks to be of maximum impact by considering the risks to performance or compliance, the level of income or spending involved, forthcoming developments and political and public interest.