Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) emphasized the importance of responsible and judicious antimicrobial usage by all related stakeholders to control the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Indonesia.
BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated that AMR is one of the main threats to global public health and development while citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showing that AMR is directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.
BPOM monitoring data shows that the percentage of pharmaceutical service facilities dispensing antimicrobials, especially antibiotics, without a doctor’s prescription was 79.57 percent, 75.49 percent, and 70.75 percent for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively.
“Although the trend is decreasing, vigilance is necessary as the national average for antibiotic use without a doctor’s prescription remains relatively high,” he noted in a statement on Saturday.
He explained that the causes of AMR include incorrect or excessive use of antimicrobials, environmental contamination, transmission in health facilities, inadequate rapid diagnostics and vaccinations, substandard and counterfeit drugs, and mass drug administration practices.
He also highlighted the issue of self-medication, leading to the accumulation and improper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, which requires immediate intervention.
In 2019, the BPOM launched the “Let’s Dispose of Drug Waste Correctly” program in 15 provinces involving 1,000 pharmacies to manage drug waste in the community.
“From the program, data was obtained that antibiotics are also among the drug waste received. This fact needs to be considered, especially in relation to the threat of AMR,” Taruna remarked.
He revealed that AMR led to common infections, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or urinary tract infections, caused by resistant bacteria that become difficult or impossible to treat.
“The impact is also on the economic sector. Longer and more difficult-to-treat infections increase healthcare costs, including hospital costs, intensive care, and drugs. In addition, it has an impact in the form of decreased work productivity due to increasing disability and death rates due to AMR,” he explained.
In line with the National Action Plan for Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance 2020-2024 and the draft 2025-2029 plan, BPOM and relevant stakeholders are reaffirming their commitment to combating antimicrobial resistance.
The joint recitation of the Antimicrobial Control Commitment Pledge symbolized the renewed commitment to controlling AMR. This pledge has been recorded in the Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) as the Pledge with Most Reciters.
“I hope this AMR Pledge is not just a promise but can be a driving force for us all to increase commitment, enthusiasm, and motivation to consistently play an active role in controlling AMR,” Taruna concluded.
