The Health Ministry detailed an antibiotic resistance management action plan to the Cabinet this Thursday as integrated epidemic prevention intended to be carried out nation-wide. The Cabinet approved the NT$1.9 billion (US$60 million) plan which will be implemented beginning 2025.
The action plan will establish a national prevention and control platform to mitigate antibiotic resistance, thereby reducing the effect of “superbugs,” highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, on the population.
After public concern over the common consumption of lactic acid bacteria and probiotics, Deputy Health Minister Jih-haw Chou (周志浩) responded by saying that lactic acid bacteria is unlikely to spur drug resistance, and that he had personally never seen any reports of it doing so.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) is requesting that the Health, Agriculture, and Environment Ministries join forces to promote the proper use, storage, and expiration of medicines to the public.