【Contributing to Countermeasures against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Appropriate Use of Antibiotics in Vietnam】

Jul. 22, 2024 Global Health

【Contributing to Countermeasures against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Appropriate Use of Antibiotics in Vietnam】

In recent years, AMR has been recognized as a social problem requiring global level action, often referred to as a "silent pandemic." We would like to introduce our company's efforts in addressing this social problem.

Problem of AMR in Vietnam

Backgrounded by deficiencies in the healthcare system and inappropriate use of antibiotics, the global rise of AMR bacteria has become a significant challenge in the international community. There is a growing number of cases worldwide where patients, who should have been saved by antibiotic treatment, are losing their lives due to infections caused by AMR bacteria. Vietnam is known as one of the Asian countries where the problem of AMR bacteria is particularly severe, and in recent years, addressing this issue has become an urgent priority. One prominent environmental factor in this situation is the insufficient number of healthcare professionals and hospital facilities compared to developed countries. Consequently, it makes challenging to select and utilize appropriate antibiotics based on diagnostic testing results for treating infectious diseases. Another noteworthy social factor to consider is the long-standing encouragement of self-medication as a coping mechanism for the overburdened healthcare system. This practice allows people freely purchase and use antibiotics from pharmacies without prescriptions or proper professional guidance. This prevailing societal acceptance of inappropriate antibiotic use in non-hospital settings has directly stemmed from this widespread self-medication practice.

Our Group's Initiatives

Group Photo of Participating Study Researchers and Sumitomo Pharma Group Members

Sumitomo Pharma Group has conducted two rounds of the antibiotic susceptibility surveillance study in Vietnam since 2019, as part of our commitment to addressing the reality of AMR bacteria in the country and contributing to global health.
By leveraging the results of the study, we aim to raise awareness about the problem of AMR bacteria and encourage the appropriate selection and use of antibiotics in treatment settings. We expect this will contribute to the more effective and cost-efficient medical care, leading to enhance the lifesaving and recovery of patients in Vietnam. Furthermore, by inhibiting the increase of AMR bacteria, we anticipate that existing antibiotics, including our carbapenem antibiotic preparation MERONEM® (generic name: meropenem hydrate; brand name in Japan: MEROPEN®), will continue to maintain and exert their efficacies for treating infectious diseases for years to come. By leveraging the results of the study, we aim to raise awareness about the problem of AMR bacteria and encourage the appropriate selection and use of antibiotics in treatment settings. We expect this will contribute to the more effective and cost-efficient medical care, leading to enhance the lifesaving and recovery of patients in Vietnam. Furthermore, by inhibiting the increase of AMR bacteria, we anticipate that existing antibiotics, including our carbapenem antibiotic preparation MERONEM® (generic name: meropenem hydrate; brand name in Japan: MEROPEN®), will continue to maintain and exert their efficacies for treating infectious diseases for years to come.
In March 2024, we had successfully completed the 2nd antibiotic susceptibility surveillance study, and held a close-out ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam, in May.

Close-out Ceremony Held for the Study

The ceremony held to celebrate the successful completion of the study was attended by over 60 individuals. Among them were representatives from a total of 11 participating hospitals, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, Vietnamese government agencies, local academia, collaborative research support organizations such as the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), company personnel, as well as representatives from Sumitomo Pharma Asia Pacific and Zuellig Pharma. The latter two organizations are involved in the local supply of our product MERONEM®.

Mr. Kozuki, the Executive Officer in charge of the department responsible for the study, expressed his gratitude and respect to the healthcare professionals and local stakeholders who participated in the study. During the speeches given by our honor guests, they expressed their gratitude for our Group's commitment to stable supply of high-quality antimicrobial products and conducting continuous surveillance studies. They also expressed their expectations for the improvement of infectious disease treatment in Vietnam through the future proactive utilization of the study’s data. The ceremony concluded with remarks from the official of the National Drug Information and Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring Centre, a relative agency of the Ministry of Health of the Vietnam Government. They emphasized that the study has the potential to contribute significantly to addressing the issue of AMR bacteria in Vietnam. They also highlighted the great expectations for local hospitals to proactively utilize the knowledge of the study in their daily clinical practices.

Our Commitment to Countermeasures against AMR

Group Photo of Distinguished Guests and Local Participants at the Ceremony

In Asian countries where our Group operates its antimicrobial business, there is a significant demand for capacity building on appropriate antimicrobial prescription practices among local governments and healthcare institutions. We believe that this initiative, contributing to the wide-range of healthcare improvement in each country, will not only promote the proper use of various antimicrobial drugs beyond our products but also enhance the reputation and presence of our Group companies.
We are committed to continuing our efforts in various activities to contribute to the health and well-being of people in Vietnam and around the world by engaging.