OUR MISSION

The National Antibiotic Committee was set up since 2008 in accordance to the legal notice L.N.122 as part of the Public Health Act (Cap.465). In 2023, the format of the committee changed to capture the ‘One Health’ collaboration between various stakeholders from a multitude of sectors – including human healthcare specialists, veterinarians, pharmacists, educationalists, policy makers, legislative bodies, agriculture, industry and the public. This led to the establishment of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Committee in accordance to the legal notice L.N. 105 of 2023.

It shall be the duty of the Committee to:

(a) Advise the Superintendent of Public Health on measures necessary to minimise antimicrobial resistance.

(b) Develop and update the Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in Malta through a OneHealth approach.

(c) Coordinate strategies to ensure the continued effectiveness of antimicrobial agents used in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in humans and animals.

(d) Monitor the implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance through a OneHealth approach and advise on implementation actions where necessary. 

(e) Promote effective infection prevention and control programmes within healthcare institutions.

(f) Ensure that the impact on safety and quality of care is considered in all decisions.

(g) Develop and recommend strategies to comply with EU legislation as well as draw up and disseminate guidelines and standards on appropriate antimicrobial use, optimal dosing, administration and monitoring in line with accepted best practice so as to guide antimicrobial therapy as well as infection prevention and control.

(h) Promote effective education on antimicrobial resistance, prudent use of antimicrobial agents and antibiotic stewardship, as well as infection prevention, to professionals in human health, animal health and the general public.​

(i) Tender all such advice as may be requested by the Superintendent of Public Health.

The Committee shall:

  1. Coordinate the establishment of surveillance systems to analyse trends in antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial utilisation using data in human and animal health, as well as analysing healthcare associated infections caused by resistance micro-organisms or otherwise.


  2. Act as an authorised body by virtue of the powers conferred by article 8 of the Act and collect, from any relevant entity, appropriate information concerning antimicrobial resistance, data on the consumption, distribution and dispensing of antimicrobial agents used in the treatment and prevention of infections in humans and animals, as well as incidence of healthcare associated infections and the processes needed for their prevention.