Combating antimicrobial resistance in Singapore: a qualitative study exploring the policy context, challenges, facilitators, and proposed strategies

dc.contributor.authorSingh, Shweta R.
dc.contributor.authorChua, Alvin Q.
dc.contributor.authorTan, Sok Teng
dc.contributor.authorTam, Clarence C.
dc.contributor.authorHsu, Li Yang
dc.contributor.authorLegido-Quigley, Helena
dc.date.accessioned2020-11-24T09:42:16Z
dc.date.available2020-11-24T09:42:16Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.date.updated2020-11-24T09:42:17Z
dc.description.abstractAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that warrants urgent attention. However, the multifaceted nature of AMR often complicates the development and implementation of comprehensive policies. In this study, we describe the policy context and explore experts' perspectives on the challenges, facilitators, and strategies for combating AMR in Singapore. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 participants. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed thematically, adopting an interpretative approach. Participants reported that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has effectively funded AMR control programs and research in all public hospitals. In addition, a preexisting One Health platform, among MOH, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (restructured to form the Singapore Food Agency and the Animal & Veterinary Service under NParks in April 2019), National Environment Agency, and Singapore's National Water Agency, was perceived to have facilitated the coordination and formulation of Singapore's AMR strategies. Nonetheless, participants highlighted that the success of AMR strategies is compounded by various challenges such as surveillance in private clinics, resource constraints at community-level health facilities, sub-optimal public awareness, patchy regulation on antimicrobial use in animals, and environmental contamination. This study shows that the process of planning and executing AMR policies is complicated even in a well-resourced country such as Singapore. It has also highlighted the increasing need to address the social, political, cultural, and behavioral aspects influencing AMR. Ultimately, it will be difficult to design policy interventions that cater for the needs of individuals, families, and the community, unless we understand how all these aspects interact and shape the AMR response.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research is funded through the CoSTAR-HS and SPHERiC Collaborative Center Grants from the National Medical Research Council, Singapore.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8040201
dc.identifier.idgrec029544
dc.identifier.issn2079-6382
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/69939
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.relation.isformatofReproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8040201
dc.relation.ispartofAntibiotics, 2019, vol. 8, num. 4, p. 1-17
dc.rightscc-by (c) Singh et al., 2019
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectAntimicrobial resistance
dc.subjectPolicy analysis
dc.subjectOne Health
dc.subjectPublic health
dc.subjectSingapore
dc.titleCombating antimicrobial resistance in Singapore: a qualitative study exploring the policy context, challenges, facilitators, and proposed strategies
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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