National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2024-2028)

Overview

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Nepal endorses the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2024–2028, to ensure the rational use of antimicrobials and effectively contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nepal. This strategy focuses mainly on AMR control, prevention, and management. This action plan has been formulated in alignment with the GAP on AMR adopted by the 68th World Health Assembly.

The Public Health Service Act, 2075 (2018) prohibits the sale or distribution of antibiotics without a medical prescription and requires maintaining quality standards of consumables, including food and meat. The National Health Policy, 2076 (2019) highlights the need to develop a national action plan to reduce AMR and effectively regulate and control the misuse of antibiotics. It is notable that the Nepal Health Sector Strategy also identifies AMR as a public health challenge and implementation of One Health approach to address AMR. Likewise, this National Action Plan builds on the “One Health Strategy, 2076” (2019) endorsed by the Council of Ministers.

Objective

The primary objective of the NAP-AMR is to ensure the rational use of antimicrobials and contain AMR. This plan is expected to improve awareness and understanding regarding AMR in Nepal, reduce inappropriate antimicrobial consumption and optimize antimicrobial use. It is expected that the NAP-AMR will improve IPC in Nepal and eventually contribute substantially to AMR containment in the country.

Vision: AMR free Nepal.

Goal:To reduce the mortality, morbidity, and economic impact of AMR through coordination and collaboration amongst all relevant stakeholders and strengthening of the mechanisms established to address AMR in Nepal.

Mission: To promote the health status of people through optimal use of antibiotics.

Strategic priorities

The five strategic priorities identified for the NAP-AMR are as follows:

1. Improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education, and training,
2. Strengthen the knowledge and evidence related to AMR through surveillance and research,
3. Reduce the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control,
4. Optimize the use of antimicrobial agents in the human, animal, and food sectors,
5. Ensure sustainable resources for the containment of AMR along with promoting investment in research and innovation.

Related readings

• National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Nepal (DRAFT)
• National Antimicrobial Treatment Guidelines 2023
• Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance
• Call for actionable steps in response to the rising threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Jeddah Commitments on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• World AMR Awareness Week 2023: Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020! United to preserve antimicrobials
• Lack of new antibiotics threatens global efforts to contain drug-resistant infections
• World Antibiotic Awareness Week: Prescription for action from WHO
• Adopt and implement high-impact interventions to secure the future of antibiotics and rollback the global AMR crisis
• Change Can’t Wait. Our Time with Antibiotics is Running Out! 
• Think Twice. Seek Advice: World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November 2017
• National Antibiotic Treatment Guideline-2014
• WHO priority pathogens list for research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics
• WHO’s list of urgent global health challenges for the new decade
• World Antibiotic Awareness Week: Prescription for action from WHO
• Think Twice. Seek Advice: World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November 2017