Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern for public health throughout the Region. Resistance rates for many micro-organisms are increasing in both developing and developed countries in the Region, although rates and patterns of resistance vary significantly from country to country and within countries.

The WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (2001) provides a framework of action for effective containment at various levels. The Strategy recommends that each Member State establish a national surveillance programme to monitor resistance throughout the country, which provides information to implement evidence-based containment strategies. However, many Member States in the Region have not yet established a comprehensive national surveillance programme.

Antimicrobial resistance has been monitored in the Region since 1991 through a regional surveillance programme. Focal laboratories in 13 countries participate in the programme, and maintain data on 22 common bacteria species that cause significant public health problems. It is recommended that the system be expanded and revised to monitor resistance in the Region more effectively, and to link this with activities to develop evidence-based containment strategies. WHO's Regional Offices for the Western Pacific and South-East Asia are working closely to facilitate a common strategy for surveillance and containment.

Fact sheets

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News and press releases

09 June 2005
WHO calls for urgent action on antimicrobial resistance
[full text]

19 September 2002
Rising drug resistance undermining health programmes
[full text]

Relevant publications and documents

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