Keydiscussion points
Key discussion points from the meeting included:
- The role of WES in the national strategy to address antibiotic resistance and environmental factors.
- Identification of the roles of different sectors, including government, academia, and private entities, in contributing to WES.
- Challenges related to implementing WES, particularly regarding funding and workforce capacity.
- The importance of establishing a coordinated approach for data sharing among stakeholders to enhance public health responses.
- The involvement of local government versus national agencies in leading WES initiatives.
- How to effectively communicate the importance of surveillance efforts to both the public and private sectors.
- Suggestions for identifying funding sources and potential grants to support ongoing and future WES-related projects.
- Highlighting the need for solid evidence to drive policy decisions and increase awareness of antibiotic resistance and public health risks.
- Planning for the next steps, including forming working groups focused on specific pathogens and developing operational guidelines for WES in Thailand.
Assistant Professor Vincent Pang, Asia PGI WES Lead, shared that “we aim to expand technical capabilities for WES in the region by advocating for the use of multi-pathogen testing approaches, especially for vaccine-preventable pathogens, in order to maximise sustainability and public health impact."
Overall, the meeting aimed to foster collaboration between multi-sectoral stakeholders in order to develop a comprehensive strategy for monitoring and addressing environmental and health issues through WES in Thailand.