As part of its wider strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the European Commission has published a Special Eurobarometer survey, showing a decrease of 6% in the consumption of antibiotics but at the same time a persistent lack of awareness on their effects. The survey clearly demonstrates that there exists a direct link between better information and lower consumption. The Commissions’ Action Plan on AMR (2011-2016) is currently being evaluated and will, together with the Eurobarometer results, feed into the ongoing work to identify value added EU Action in the fight against AMR as from next year and beyond, among other by giving a stronger push to innovation and research for the development of new antibiotics. European Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis stated that he would like the EU to be “the best practice region in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), giving a stronger push to research for the development of new antibiotics, as well as alternatives to antimicrobials.” This shows that the Commission shares EuCheMS concerns presented earlier this year at a STOA-EuCheMS workshop on AMR.
Source: http://europa.eu/