Gladly would the author like to provide ‘all about’ it but confident data on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is unfortunately rather lacking in Mongolia. The country is not alone however with this challenge.  In recent decades, the world has been confronted with the accelerated emergence of AMR due to the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents. Needless to mention that this is a truly multisectoral challenge (aka One Health) calling for various sectors and countries to work together since resistant microorganisms simply do not care geographical, institutional or species borders.

To that end, the General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS) in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) organized a workshop on ‘Monitoring the Quantities and Usage Patterns of Antimicrobial Agents used in Animals in Mongolia’ on 11-12 June 2019. The two main objectives of the event were to 1) encourage engagement of participants in the monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobial agents used in animals and 2) ensure implementation of evidence-based policy decisions.

Some may be aware that Mongolia has approved its own National multi-sectoral National Action Plan on combating AMR in 2017. This plan, jointly developed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MoFALI), mentions specially the following:

-          Enhancing coordination between human & animal health sectors for joint surveillance & information sharing

-          Revision of drug registration procedures for veterinary drugs

-          Development of country-specific antimicrobial consumption methodologies

-          Collection & publication of antimicrobial consumption data for both sectors

-          Conduct awareness for rational & prudent use of antimicrobials amongst the general public & herdsmen

While the plan is there, it now remains a ‘matter of implementation’ as rightly remarked by the Regional Project Coordinator, Dr Kinzang from the OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific. Dr Batsaikhan Sodnom, Deputy-Director General at GAVS, added that it is crucial to monitor the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobials used in animals in Mongolia. This is all the more important in the absence of documentation on prescription or application of antimicrobials. So far, the GAVS has been submitting annual data on antimicrobial usage to the OIE mainly based on distribution and import data. However, there are still challenges faced in collection of quality data from various data sources including the livestock and aquaculture industries, government authorities and the private sector.

Dr Martin Heilmann participated in the event on behalf of FAO and provided an overview of FAO’s Action plan on AMR and ongoing activities in the Asia-Pacific region including e.g. the ASEAN communication strategy or the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), the FAO Assessment Tool for AMR Surveillance (ATLASS) and a Policy Review Framework to strengthen governance on AMR.

FAO thanks the organizers and participants of this meeting and congratulates on all the valuable results that will be forwarded to policymakers in order to better tackle the challenge of AMR in Mongolia.