6
Deferred
Review status of phages in AMR plans and improve research funding prospects
Recommendation
Because phages have had relatively limited recent research funding from public sources, we recommend that the Government reviews the status of phages within its plans to tackle AMR. We also recommend more specifically that the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the UK Health Security Agency engage with the phage The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages 57 researchers to improve prospects for phage related applications for research funding. Without proper support, the full potential of phages will not be realised within the Government’s AMR strategy.
Government Response Summary
The government supports the principle of phage education but states that medical and veterinary training standards and curricula are the responsibility of independent statutory bodies (GMC, RCVS, and schools), thereby deflecting responsibility. It does not address the recommendation to review phages within AMR plans or NIHR/UKHSA engagement.
Paragraph Reference
50
Government Response
Deferred
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government supports the principle of education and training on the clinical use of phage, as well as access to phage therapies and expertise, for medical and veterinary professionals as and when relevant. However, the standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC) and the standard of veterinary training is the responsibility of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), both of which are independent statutory bodies. Furthermore, UK medical and veterinary schools determine the content of their own curricula which have to meet the standards set by the respective regulatory bodies, the GMC and RCVS, which provides monitoring to ensure that the standards are maintained. The GMC standards require the curriculum to be formed in a way that allows all medical students to meet the GMC’s outcomes for graduates by the time they complete their medical degree, which describe the knowledge, skills and behaviours they have to show as newly registered doctors. The GMC co-ordinates all stages of medical education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice. The training curricula for postgraduate doctors in training is set by the relevant Royal College and must meet the standards set by the GMC. While curricula do not necessarily highlight specific advances for doctors to be aware of, they instead emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. Manufacturing phages
Source
Report
First Report - The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages
03 Jan 2024
HC 328
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
2.4 yrs
Report published
03 Jan 2024