Ha Noi, Viet Nam. In 2016, the United Nations identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a global priority health issue. Antimicrobial resistance in the Vietnamese livestock and aquaculture sector has become an issue of great public health concern. To tackle AMR in Viet Nam, a multi-sectoral effort is needed to properly address the problem. A national action plan to reduce AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) in the livestock and aquaculture production was issued in June 2017 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to support the national action plan issued by the Ministry of Health in 2013.

As a step to lower AMR in Viet Nam and promote antimicrobial stewardship, the Department of Animal Health (DAH) drafted a prescription circular for veterinary drugs with technical support from Danish expert and a national AMR surveillance programme in livestock based on the pilot surveillance conducted by the National Center for Veterinary Hygiene and Inspection No. 1 with the technical support from FAO and OUCRU.

Two workshops were organized by the Department of Animal Health (DAH) in collaboration with the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD), FAO Viet Nam, one in Ha Noi on 13 September 2019 and the second in Ho Chi Minh City on 25 September 2019. The objectives of the two workshops were to share the draft prescription circular for veterinary drugs and the draft national AMR surveillance programme. After a detailed presentation of each draft, participants were asked to comment on and discuss the drafts.

Representatives from DAH Sub-departments, private sector representatives and other relevant partners shared their thoughts and experiences to give feedback on the drafts, in order for DAH to finalize the prescription circular and national action plan. Both workshops were successfully conducted and finalizing the drafts based on the valuable feedback from partners is an important step towards antimicrobial stewardship in Viet Nam.