Within the framework of the "Pandemic Response Fund (Kazakhstan)" project, aimed at preparing for and responding to a pandemic based on the "One Health" concept in Central Asia, with the financial support of the Pandemic Response Fund, FAO Kazakhstan held a round table on the topic "Preventing antimicrobial resistance in Kazakhstan: achievements, challenges and next steps in interdisciplinary cooperation".
The event was attended by representatives of FAO, the World Health Organization, the Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and More than 30 specialists from among the members of the professional community participated. Its main goal was to develop a concept for a pilot program for epidemiological surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the veterinary sector.
Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is one of the greatest global threats to human health, animal and food safety. In Kazakhstan, this issue is recognized as strategically important, as confirmed by the adoption of the Roadmap "Measures to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in the Republic of Kazakhstan" for 2023–2027.
The project is a pilot program for epidemiological surveillance in the veterinary sector and is an important step in ensuring an integrated approach to combating AMR within the framework of the "One Health" concept.
During the discussion, the participants identified criteria for selecting priority regions for the implementation of the pilot program, taking into account the existing infrastructure and epidemiological situation. Also, based on international experience and local specifics, a list of key pathogens to be monitored was agreed upon.
In addition, mechanisms for integrating the pilot program with the existing epidemiological surveillance system in the healthcare sector were considered.
“The importance of interdisciplinary interaction in controlling antimicrobial resistance and the need to identify coordination mechanisms between the veterinary sector and the healthcare system are very relevant,” noted Samat Tulegenov, Deputy Chairman of the Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following the results of the roundtable, the participants emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and data exchange for effective control of AMR.
The development of the pilot program concept will be completed soon, and the final list of pathogens requiring priority attention will be approved.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/moa/press/news/details/937194