Challenges at the global level
The StAR strategy is the foundation for addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance in a systematic and cross-sector approach. The StAR project team is assembled of people from each relevant area: humans-animals-agriculture-environment – i.e. those areas in which antibiotics play a significant role. The strategy has already notched up some initial successes. Nevertheless, as FOPH Director Anne Lévy stressed in her opening speech, the future challenges posed by antibiotic resistance at the global level are considerable: "This continues to apply equally to Switzerland. In drawing up the One Health Action Plan 2024-27, we want to set priorities for the next few years and join forces."
There is still a need for action
Although important objectives have been achieved, there is still a need for further action – as demonstrated by a review of the current implementation status of StAR. In response to this need, the 2024-27 Action Plan focuses on binding and innovative measures. The main directions of impact in the Action Plan are based on the accumulated experience, recommendations from science, from proposals put forward in political initiatives as well as on findings from the evaluations of the achievements of StAR since 2016.
One Health strategy is key
The One Health approach is again written large in the Action Plan: The cooperation between the various sectors promotes the exchange of knowledge and strengthens the joint efforts to control antibiotic resistance. Although each individual sector has its own specific challenges and defines corresponding measures, the interdisciplinary exchange highlights the interconnections between human and veterinary medicine, agriculture and the environment.
Inputs from Austria
The workshop benefited from the input of Reinhild Strauss from Austria’s Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. Her presentation on the current challenges in antimicrobial resistance in Austria gave participants the opportunity to share views on parallels and differences in relation to Switzerland.
