Government Federal Council wants to further reduce antibiotic consumption

Fewer antibiotics are to be used in Switzerland. On Wednesday, the Federal Council adopted an action plan to reduce antibiotic resistance. It aims to reduce the use of antibiotics in humans and animals.

In particular, the monitoring of antibiotic use in Switzerland must be improved, according to a fact sheet on the new action plan. Data would be collected for this monitoring through gene sequencing. Programs for the appropriate use of antibiotics are also needed.

In addition, specialists and the general public should be informed and sensitized to the topic. New incentives for the development and provision of new antibiotics on the Swiss pharmaceutical market are also being examined, the Federal Council wrote in a press release on Wednesday.

Stable situation in Switzerland

With the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Strategy, the Federal Council has been pursuing the goal of ensuring the long-term effectiveness of antibiotics for humans and animals since 2016.

In the first eight years, the strategy has led to a reduction in antibiotic consumption. In human medicine, the consumption of "watch" antibiotics, which are particularly critical for the development of resistance, fell by 30 percent between 2015 and 2022. In veterinary medicine, antibiotic prescriptions fell even more sharply.

According to the Federal Council, resistance rates in Switzerland are showing signs of stabilizing for the time being. However, due to significantly higher rates in an international context, the situation is expected to worsen again, according to the Federal Council. There is therefore still a need for action.

The success of the new One Health action plan will be evaluated in 2027.

SDA