GTA

Support: Quality, Standard, and Regulation Division, Ministry of Health and Population

Partner: WHO

Status: Completed

An extensive assessment spanning eight hospitals namely Bir Hospital, Bharatpur Hospital, Koshi Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Surkhet Provincial Hospital, Bheri Hospital,Seti Provincial Hospital and Narayani Hospital across seven provinces in Nepal was conducted by the Quality, Standard, and Regulation Division, Ministry of Health and Population. The orientation was provided to 20 to 30 participants at each hospital and later carried out the dissemination meeting too.

This evaluation aimed at understanding and enhancing the implementation of core principles outlined in the WHO Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit. The comprehensive assessment delved into healthcare provider and staff training, shedding light on the current state of antimicrobial stewardship practices in the country.

The findings of this assessment unveiled crucial insights, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses in existing stewardship programs. Among the identified challenges, a significant gap emerged in the awareness and understanding of antimicrobial stewardship principles among healthcare providers and staff. This deficiency poses a notable hurdle in executing effective antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

Moreover, a lack of essential infrastructure and resources in numerous healthcare facilities impedes the application of core elements from the WHO toolkit. The assessment also revealed limitations in interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals and departments, impacting the holistic approach to antimicrobial stewardship.

Strengthening data collection and surveillance systems emerged as a critical need to monitor antimicrobial use and resistance trends, emphasizing the necessity of accurate data for effective stewardship. Additionally, comprehensive training for healthcare providers and staff was identified as imperative to enhance their expertise in antimicrobial stewardship.

These findings serve as a foundational step toward refining and strengthening antimicrobial stewardship initiatives nationwide, highlighting areas for improvement and emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts in enhancing healthcare practices.