May 22, 2023

The Time to Act is Now on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Shadow Pandemic

A blog series following the 2023 Innovations in Healthcare Annual Forum

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat with the potential to cause a global pandemic. On April 25, 2023, key stakeholders from around the globe came together to discuss the critical challenges and necessary efforts to combat AMR at the IiH Annual Forum. Panelists included AMR experts and leaders from the public, private, and development sectors, who shared their ongoing work to address AMR globally, nationally, and within health systems. 

Two key takeaways emerged from the panel discussions:

  1. A coordinated, multi-sector approach to address AMR is critical. AMR requires the collaboration of various stakeholders to develop and implement solutions.
  2. To prevent ther inappropriate use of antimicrobials, health workers in  low- and middle-income countries need access to both rapid and reliable testing that feeds into robust surveillance systems. Additionally, healthcare workers require a reliable supply chain to reliably receive treatments.

Over the last two years, IiH has provided technical assistance to the Ministries of Health and hospitals in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda to implement and sustain AMR surveillance through the Surveillance Partnership to Improve Data for Action on AMR (SPIDAAR), a public private partnership funded by Pfizer, Inc, along with Wellcome Trust. Through this experience, IiH has developed recommendations for a systems approach and whole system planning to combat AMR and address issues beyond the control of any one hospital, lab, or ministry. 

 

Ultimately, a coordinated, multisectoral response by key international, regional, and national stakeholders is necessary to address AMR effectively and equitably. Governments, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry, and the public all have a role to play in tackling this important issue. It is essential that we act now to preserve the effectiveness of our antimicrobial drugs and protect public health.  


 Did you find this blog helpful? Checkout other posts from the #IiHForum23 series: