The Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan (IDST) and the Taiwan Society of Critical Care Medicine (TSCCM) held a joint press conference on the 20th to urge the government to address the growing problem of drug resistance.  They called on the government to provide reasonable profit margin for drug companies and to accelerate the review of new drugs so that more life-saving antibiotics could be made available in Taiwan.

Referring to data from the Taiwan Hospital Infection Control and Drug Resistance Surveillance and Management System in the second quarter of 2023, Dr Wang Fu-Der, President of the IDST, highlighted a concerning trend. In Taiwan, the proportion of drug-resistant multiple pathogenic bacteria has steadily increased over the three-year pandemic period. For certain strains, the rate of drug resistance exceeds 80%, with a threefold increase in CRE drug resistance over the past nine years. This escalation poses a significant challenge for healthcare practitioners, as the available treatment options continue to diminish.

Dr Lee Chen-Hsiang of the Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital mentioned that research has demonstrated that delayed administration of effective antibiotics is correlated with an elevated infection-related mortality rate.

Dr Kao Guo-Chin, President of the TSCCM, highlighted a noteworthy concern. Despite the continuous introduction of new cancer drugs to the market, the development of new antibiotics remains notably scarce. Furthermore, in the absence of an effective mechanism to regulate antibiotic usage, the future treatment of infectious diseases faces significant challenges.

Dr Sheu Chau-Chyun of the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital pointed out that using antibiotics based on experiences was quite effective in the past, before drug resistance became a serious issue. However, in the present scenario, there is an imperative need for new generations of antibiotics to address evolving challenges in medical treatments.

Dr Wang Fu Der stated that it takes more than one year for a new antibiotic to undergo a new drug review in Taiwan and an additional year for NHI listing assessment. In the meantime, many patients are losing their lives. He urged the government to expedite the drug review process, particularly for life-saving antibiotics. Additionally, he suggested that the NHI should provide a reasonable profit margin for drug companies to encourage the introduction of new treatments into Taiwan.

【2023-12-20 / United Daily】