Dear Dr. Weir:
I would like to thank the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) for its continued interest in, and attention to antibiotic use and resistance. Your position paper, When Antibiotics Stop Working, is an important reminder of the need for prudent antibiotic use in both humans and in animals.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food works closely with many partners in both the human health and agricultural sectors to address antibiotic use in agriculture. For example:
We work with the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS), which tracks trends in antibiotic use and resistance in Canadian agriculture.
We work with livestock and poultry producer organizations and private veterinarians to promote prudent use of livestock medicines and alternative preventive approaches for maintaining animal health.
We are involved in research looking at alternatives to antibiotic use in food animals.
The Canadian Council of Chief Veterinary Officers, of which I am chair, has also made antimicrobial resistance a priority, and is working on initiatives to increase surveillance, outreach and education activities across the country.
Antibiotics will always be an important part of an overall strategy for healthy animals, as they are with humans. And we know that they must be used responsibly and judiciously.
We will continue our collaboration with government, medical, veterinary and livestock partners to promote the prudent use of livestock medicines and alternative preventive approaches to reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance.
Again, I appreciate the OMA's leadership on this important global matter.
Sincerely,
Dr. Greg B. Douglas
Chief Veterinarian for Ontario
