Evaluation of Antimicrobial Usage: Supply Chain and Monitoring in the Livestock and Poultry Sector of Pakistan

Irrational use of antimicrobials in humans, livestock and poultry are often cited as the key drivers of accelerated emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals. In Pakistan, the use of antimicrobials in livestock and poultry is not well-regulated owing to limited and/or ineffective implementation of existing legislations and lack of coordination amongst the key stakeholders. To gather data and information pertinent to the supply chain mapping and the usage of antibiotics in the livestock and poultry sectors of Pakistan, a national workshop among selected influential stakeholders was held in Islamabad, Pakistan during March 2020 to map the supply chain and usage of antibiotics in country. Participants from all relevant organizations identified the supply chain and discussed the status, challenges, and way forward to enhance data collection and monitoring of antimicrobials usage (AMU) in livestock and poultry sectors to contain emergence of AMR. The pre-workshop questionnaire was designed to gather relevant information on AMU and its distribution among diverse markets and users from the workshop participants, utilizing open-ended questions. A chart depicting the relative magnitude of an antimicrobial use (AMU) supply chain was constructed to illustrate the flow of antimicrobials from import and production to end-use at the farm level. This chart was shared with participants to gather their professional opinions and potential corrections. It also presented a list of agencies and their roles in regulating AMU, along with the types of AMU data available at each level. Specific recommendations were made at the end of the workshop to review and update legislation to cover the entire AMU supply chain, enhance regulations to restrict the use of antimicrobial growth promoters, build an integrated national AMU database system, and raise awareness about the responsible use of antimicrobials in the livestock and poultry sectors. It was concluded that the AMU supply chain in veterinary sector of Pakistan is fragmented and is co-regulated by various federal and provincial stakeholders. There are some drugs such as antibiotic growth promoters which are not regulated at all. The approach and findings from this study can serve as a model to validate the use and management of antibiotics in other similar countries currently grappling with serious antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crises.