WHO - EB 150 - EU Statement: Item 12: Infection prevention and control

Chair,

Director-General,

Members of the Executive Board,

Colleagues,

I speak on behalf of the EU and its member states.

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia[1], Montenegro[1] and Albania[1], the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova,  and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its member states thank the Secretariat for the report and welcome the clear and updated information on infection prevention and control.

Infection prevention and control is at the core of mitigating harmful effects of communicable diseases on society. The Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), have further highlighted the need to strengthen and invest in IPC measures at national and global level.

Adequately qualified personnel, up-to-date IPC-guidelines, availability of disinfectants and personal protective equipment, together with appropriate waste management from healthcare settings and applied antimicrobial stewardship programmes are central pillars of effective IPC programs, underpinned by a multidisciplinary approach. The crucial role of immunisation also needs to be underlined in this context.

WHO plays an important role in promoting political action, providing technical support and fostering collaboration between countries. Surveillance and data collection need to improve in line with the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System. The WHO Global Action Plan on Patient Safety 2021-2030, supported by the EU, includes infection prevention as a priority, and the ongoing "Decade for Patient Safety" should be leveraged for an enhanced focus on IPC.

Member States have long highlighted the need to see IPC in light of outbreak preparedness and response and for health systems strengthening, and the EU considers this to be an important aspect going forward. We must not allow IPC to be a weak link in our defences and cause more harm than good to patients and people. The EU and its member states would like to highlight the need to focus on mitigating health care-associated infections and AMR in order to increase patient safety.

We have seen that multisectoral action in all relevant political and technical fields is crucial to prevent infectious diseases and combatting AMR, in line with the One health approach and as set out in the 2015 WHO Global Action Plan on AMR. We also believe it is necessary that the antimicrobial stewardship component of IPC be strengthened as part of the core capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005).

Many common infections can be prevented, minimising the costs for health systems and reducing burden on health care staff and health systems. Weak IPC disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as patients with comorbidities. We are acutely aware of the importance of addressing socioeconomic aspects when it comes to IPC, within and between countries. The gaps between high- and low-income countries when it comes to IPC programmes and their implementation are staggering. Even when national guidelines are available in countries, implementation needs to improve and dedicated national budgets be made available for sustained IPC programmes in health care settings.

The EU and its member states note that IPC implementation continues to go very slowly.

We would therefore welcome a comprehensive approach at global level to promote progress in countries towards IPC program implementation, clear goals and follow up.

Thank you.

[1] The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.