National Strategy for Combating Antimicrobial Resistance for 2017-2020

The National Strategy against Antimicrobial Resistance for 2017-2020 is a national cross-sectoral strategy of Georgia. Its main objective is to implement the policies to combat antimicrobial resistance in medical facilities of Georgia.
More specifically, the Strategy plans to create a permanent monitoring group that will be responsible for the implementation of this Strategy; to supervise the use of antibiotics; to ensure epidemiological control of resistance to antibiotics including by creating a national profile of antimicrobial resistance; to strengthen the control and prevention of infections; to strengthen the capacity of microbiology laboratories; to ensure a rational use of antibiotics; and to raise awareness and education.
Notably, the Objective VIII of the Strategy provides to ensure safety of food and feed including by (1) preventing the development of antimicrobial resistance in food chains, (2) starting to monitor the use of antibiotics in the veterinary practices, and (3) strengthening/expanding the monitoring practices of bacterial contamination of food. The indicators for achieving these activities are: (1) restricting the use of antibiotics in the veterinary practices (banning certain antibiotics, banning the use of antibiotics as growth stimulators and permitting its use only for therapy). Also, the sale of veterinary antibiotics can be done only with a veterinarian’s prescription; (2) creating a monitoring system for antibiotics that are used in veterinary practices; and (3) a full laboratory control of all microbiological indicators of food done as part of the state control of food safety.
The Strategy and its action plans will be implemented by the National Strategic Action Plan Monitoring Group created by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.