TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —Taiwan will spend NT$200 million (US$6.26 million) to reduce antibiotic consumption in 2025 to lessen the impact of “superbugs” on the population.

In a report delivered to the health ministry on Tuesday (Sept. 24), CDC Deputy Director Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said the funding will aim to reduce antibiotic use by 5%, per CNA. He said the Cabinet allocated the money in July, which will also aim to reduce infections from highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria by 10%

Monitoring and risk assessment mechanisms will be established, Lo said. He said the plan will be implemented jointly with the agriculture ministry’s food and drug administration.

Infectious disease expert and National Taiwan University Vice President Chang Shan-chwen (張上淳) also reported to the health ministry. He said antibiotic resistance will be discussed at a high-level United Nations meeting on Thursday.

Chang said highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” have resulted in increased hospitalizations and medical expenses in Taiwan, and sometimes caused deaths.

The results of a recent study published by Nature found that between 1990 and 2021, more than one million people died from drug-resistant infections each year. This could double in the coming years, he added.