The National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017–2021

Antimicrobials, or antibiotics, are one of the most significant discoveries in the field of modern medicine. The increase of antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to human and animal health globally. For this reason, in autumn 2016, antimicrobial resistance was the fourth health issue ever in the agenda of the UN General Assembly. Preventing antimicrobial resistance is a task that must be tackled with cross-sectional collaboration at all levels of the entire society. Prevention concerns humans, animals, foodstuffs and the environment. Attention is to be paid, both in human and veterinary medicine, to the detection and control of spreading of resistance, prevention of infections and antimicrobial stewardship. In Finland antibiotics are not used in plant production. Globally that is not the case. Therefore antimicrobial usage in plant production is also of concern. Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is an important indicator of effective control measures and detection of new threats. Antimicrobial resistance is a global cross-border health threat that requires continuous preparedness. The global community must promptly react against new threats. This new National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance describes present control measures of antimicrobial resistance in Finland. It proposes new actions to correct observed defects and to strengthen different areas of resistance control in the future