Antimicrobial resistance (Resolution)

14 REGIONAL COMMIITEE: FIFTY-THIRD SESSION (2) to continue to support countries in the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes to control or eliminate parasitic diseases; (3) to facilitate coordination of partner activities and mobilization of funds; (4) to further strengthen regional surveillance of malaria and to promote information exchange on malaria control, antimalarial drug resistance, insecticide resistance, antimalarial drug quality, and the elimination oflymphatic filariasis; (5) to continue to advocate the regular deworming of school-aged children as an essential element of school-based health programmes. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC53/SRl8 WPRlRC53.R5 ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE The Regional Committee, Recalling resolutions WHA51.17 on antimicrobial resistance and WHA54.14 on global health security; Concerned that prevalence of resistance to most common antimicrobials is growing at an alarming rate throughout the P..egion; Recognizing that antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to global and national health security; Noting that the emergence and spread of resistance are driven by numerous interconnected factors associated with misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human and food-producing animals; Recognizing that the Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance provides a framework that can be used to develop regional and national strategies; I. URGES Member States: (I) to develop and implement multisectoral strategies for containment of antimicrobial resistance, including strengthened national and local surveillance; (2) to adopt and enforce laws and regulations to ensure that antimicrobials be made available only on prescription; (3) to promote and ensure rational use of drugs, including antimicrobials, and to develop consumer education strategies; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (I) to develop a regional strategy for containment of antimicrobial resistance; REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE 15 (2) to provide further technical support to Member States for the development and implementation of national strategies for containment of antimicrobial resistance; (3) to monitor prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the Region and to share such information with Member States. Eighth meeting, 20 September 2002 WPRlRC53/SRl8 WPRlRC53.R6 ETHICAL ISSUES RELATED TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR The Regional Committee, Noting the continuing relevance of primary health care and the need to continue to adapt it in response to changing circumstances; Further noting the need to ensure that new developments in the health sector result in health care that is consistent with ethical principles, taking into account cultural and national contexts; Acknowledging that there are a number of key ethical concepts used in health care, research and other concerns related to health and development, including fairness in the allocation of resources, principles of biomedical ethics, equity, human rights, and consideration of the social and economic determinants of health; Recognizing that new developments in the areas of genomics, care of chronic conditions, patient safety and the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine pose challenges for the health sector, some entirely new; I. URGES Member States: (I) to continue to use the primary health care concept, adapted in response to changing circumstances and specific country needs, as one of the bases on which health systems are built; (2) to ensure that principles of biomedical ethics, fairness, equity, human rights and consideration of social determinants of health are fully taken account of in health policies; (3) to build capacity to incorporate ethical principles and concepts into health- related work; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (I) to continue to improve channels of information between Member States and WHO so that information on ethical issues can be shared; (2) to work with countries to encourage the integration of principles of equity and fairness into health policies;