2023 Reports 5 to 9 of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaGaps remain in Canadian surveillance data and access to antimicrobial drugs
Ottawa, 19 October 2023—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons concluded that while the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada had taken some actions to address antimicrobial resistance since the Auditor General’s office last examined this area in 2015, some concerning gaps persist. With nearly 5 million deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance every year across the world, the World Health Organization classified it as a top 10 global public health threat in 2019 and referred to it as a “silent pandemic” in 2022.
The audit found that while the Public Health Agency of Canada had expanded its collection of data on antimicrobial resistance and use, it had yet to fill some gaps, including the collection of data outside of hospitals and in vulnerable populations. The audit also found that Health Canada strengthened its oversight of antimicrobial resistance by implementing regulatory and policy changes to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials, but the department did not assess whether these changes have had an impact.
The audit also found that the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada had yet to take effective actions to improve Canadians’ access to new antibiotics of last resort available in other countries. For example, Canadians had access to 2 of 13 new antibiotics of last resort, which are used to treat multi‑drug‑resistant infections. In contrast, the United States had access to all 13, while Sweden and the United Kingdom had access to 8.
“To successfully fight antimicrobial resistance, Canada needs data full picture of antimicrobial use and resistance across the country, and a solid plan so that the right antimicrobials are available and used in the right way to protect the health of Canadians,” said Ms. Hogan. “While the Public Health Agency of Canada released a Pan‑Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in June 2023, I am concerned that it lacks critical elements, such as concrete deliverables, timelines, ways to measure progress, and clear roles and responsibilities for each level of government. Without these elements, it is unlikely that this plan will result in any progress.”
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The 2023 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada, Report 6—Antimicrobial Resistance, is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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