Antimicrobial Resistance is a growing threat in many Asian countries and one of the major factors considered in this issue is the rational use of antimicrobials. Member associations of FAPA are called to encourage the Pharmacists in their respective countries to take an active stance and join other stakeholders to mitigate this problem.

2015 FAPA Leaders’ Meeting on the Fight against AMR

FAPA, with its eighteen (18) member associations, have committed to act on the increasingly alarming threat of AMR during the FAPA Leaders’ Meeting held on 12 September 2015, in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines. The discussion among the presidents and representatives of pharmaceutical associations (from India, Nepal, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Macao, Philippines, South Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam) centered on future actions that are aligned to support the Global Action Plan on AMR, which was approved in the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The meeting included a workshop where member associations identified key activities where their organizations can lead in relation to the five (5) Strategic Objectives in the Global Action Plan. Emphasizing the role of pharmacists in
combatting AMR, the agreements in the group discussions include public, community, and individual interventions using intersectoral approach.

Author: Joyce Alvarez