Belgium is taking significant steps to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with the development of a new National Action Plan for 2025-2029.
This initiative, led by the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (FPS HFCSE), aims to build on the momentum generated by a recent policy paper emphasising the need for robust AMR interventions.
“We are committed to strengthening the implementation of AMR interventions,” Laurane Dubrunfaut, Expert in European and International Policies at the FPS HFCSE, told Euractiv. “The new NAP AMR 2025-2029 will follow this guiding line.”
Global action
Belgium’s efforts align with the Global Action Plan (GAP) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015. This prompted countries to create national strategies to combat the threat.
Within two years, 41% of WHO member states had developed their NAPs, and by 2020-2021, 76% had finalised their plans. Several have already implemented their second iterations.
At a recent “One Health Anti-Microbial Resistance” symposium in Brussels, Thomas Janssens, Policy and Coordination Advisor at FPS HFCSE, highlighted the findings from an independent evaluation of 114 national action plans.
“Belgium ranks 23rd, placing us near the lower end of the best-performing countries,” Janssens noted. “Our main gap lies in monitoring and evaluation. The current NAP lacks a strong focus on accountability, and we often don’t know which actions are yielding the most success.”
In response, Janssens emphasised Belgium’s renewed efforts to engage stakeholders in strengthening accountability mechanisms and improving the quality of evaluations.
Collaborative approach to new NAP
Developing the new AMR action plan involves close collaboration between federal and federated entities. This collaborative effort is crucial for conducting a thorough evaluation of the current situation and engaging in strategic planning to shape the new plan effectively.
Belgium is actively engaging stakeholders through multiple channels, including calls for input and stakeholder dialogues. “We are also stakeholders with support provided to improve the quality of their proposals, ensuring their contributions are well-aligned with the objectives of the new NAP AMR,” said Janssens.
The updated NAP will address several key issues in Belgium, including improving the timeliness and availability of surveillance data, conducting thorough evaluations, considering efficacy and cost-effectiveness, and strengthening governance mechanisms. “These factors are crucial for ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to antimicrobial resistance,” she added.
Flexibility and alignment with EU initiatives
One of the critical aspects of the new AMR action plan is its flexibility and modularity, allowing it to adapt to findings from ongoing evaluations and integrate progress made at the EU level, such as within the JAMRAI initiative. “This alignment ensures that the NAP can effectively respond to new challenges while supporting One Health strategies across Member States.”
“For example, Work Package 5 of the EU-JAMRAI 2 initiative, which focuses on the operationalisation of NAPs, directly contributes to this effort by prioritising topics and facilitating cross-country collaboration on AMR,” said Zeynep Darici, Project Manager ‘One World One Health at FPS HFCSE. “This will help ensure that the NAP remains relevant and can respond effectively to new developments and challenges,” Darici explained to Euractiv.
The release of the new NAP AMR will depend on the validation process by the new government. The aim is to have the plan ready for validation in the first quarter of 2025.
International commitment and future goals
Belgium did not make a statement at the recent UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. “While the debate was actively followed, logistical issues and scheduling conflicts impacted Belgium’s participation,” said Michiel Van Der Heyden, Policy Officer Global Health at FPS HFCSE.
According to Van Der Heyden, a key takeaway for Belgium is the need for a stronger international commitment that aligns with its forthcoming NAP AMR for 2025-2029. “The country aims for a more ambitious approach to AMR, reflecting its political priorities and commitment to combating this global health threat,” he added.
Looking ahead, Belgium intends to play a significant role in the upcoming Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health event at the UN, where mental health is a priority, especially for Her Majesty the Queen, who advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
[Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
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Publish date : 2024-11-18 17:00:00
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