The plan contains a number of targets including:
- Halve healthcare associated Gram-negative blood stream infections;
- Reduce the number of specific drug-resistant infections in people by 10% by 2025;
- Reduce UK antimicrobial use in humans by 15% by 2024;
- Reduce UK antibiotic use in food-producing animals by 25% between 2016 and 2020 and define new objectives by 2021 for 2025;
- Be able to report on the percentage of prescriptions supported by a diagnostic test or decision support tool by 2024.
One of the main focus areas of the strategy is to support the rapid uptake of diagnostics.
To support rapid uptake of diagnostics, the UK will:
- Make antimicrobials and diagnostics a priority area for the Accelerated Access Pathway.
- Use modelling and test-pilot data to develop alternative funding models for faster diagnostics that support targeted treatment. This includes commissioning work to develop a method for assessing the value of new technologies that considers not only cost effectiveness but the value proposition at a system level.
- Maximise use of NICE guidance, including the Medical Technology Innovation briefs, to assess new diagnostic tests and offer prescribers advice on their use.
- Streamline the regulation process to help get new diagnostics through as quickly as possible, including developing evidence-based guidance for using tests.
The full report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-5-year-action-plan-for-antimicrobial-resistance-2019-to-2024
