"The G20 must be able to prevent this and make sustainable changes," Harbuwono remarked while opening a meeting on the handling of antimicrobial resistance, as part of the third Health Working Group meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday.
The meeting discussed three strategies of the G20 Forum in overcoming resistance to antimicrobial drugs, with the first strategy being to increase surveillance to detect antimicrobial resistance and increase laboratory and diagnostics capacity.
"Standardized and cross-sectoral monitoring of antimicrobial use and consumption is critical to understanding and monitoring AMR. Adequate data also influences science-based policy decisions and actions at national, regional, and global levels," he stated.
The second strategy is to increase research and development on new drugs, vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics as well as conduct broader infection prevention and control. The third strategy aims to increase investment in research and technology transfer.
"In an effort to realize global research and development capacity, the G20 member countries must secure sufficient and sustainable funding," Harbuwono stated.
He also emphasized the importance of implementing consistent policies and regulations to ensure access and responsible use of antimicrobial drugs to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance.
Akin to COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance is a threat that must be prevented and overcome together by involving various stakeholders, medical professionals, scientists, and the general public, he added.
The meeting on antimicrobial resistance that took place at the Hilton Nusa Dua Hotel was virtually attended by Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Assistant Director for Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention of the World Health Organization, Hannan Balky.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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