Team of AMR experts finishes one-week visit to Kosovo*

During the week, the team of experts discussed a wide range of issues related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a ‘One Health’ perspective with multiple national and regional health and veterinary authorities.

Among the visited stakeholders and institutions were:

• The Intersectoral Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Control
• The National Institute of Public Health
• The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) and Food and Veterinary Laboratory
• Kosovo Medicines Agency
• The University Clinical Center 
• Prizren regional hospital 
• Prizren Regional Institute of Public Health
• Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Prishtina 
• Main Family Medicine Centre of Pristina
• Community and hospital pharmacies
• Long-term care facility for old persons without families in Pristina

ECDC and EC officials presented an  overview of key findings and provided preliminary recommendations in the areas of:

• Intersectoral collaboration and national action plan
• Diagnostic laboratory services
• Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human health and in animal health
• Monitoring of antimicrobial consumption
• Monitoring the use of antimicrobials in animals
• Antimicrobial stewardship and treatment guidelines
• Activities to promote the reduced and prudent use of antimicrobials in animals
• Infection prevention and control (IPC)
• AMR and IPC education for human health
• Education and communication - animal health & food safety sectors
• Environmental aspects of AMR

The full country visit report will be shared with the national authorities in Kosovo. The findings and recommendations of this gap analysis will inform the development of a time-bound and budgeted country roadmap on AMR in human, animal, and environmental sectors.

The visit to Kosovo was the first in a series of planned country visits to the Western Balkans that aim to contribute to the advancement of a ‛One Health’ approach against AMR in the region.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.