policy: global action on antimicrobial resistance

antimicrobial resistance (amr) is estimated to cause at least 700,000 deaths globally each year. the review on antimicrobial resistance, which was commissioned by the former uk prime minister and published its final recommendations last year, projected that, without urgent action, amr-related deaths could rise to 10 million each year and cumulatively cost the global economy up to $100 trillion by 2050. strong messages from the review and wider health and science communities contributed to increasing recognition from international policy-makers, throughout 2016, about the need to tackle the global threat amr poses to health, economies and sustainable development. 

in may 2016, the g7 built on previous amr declarations by issuing a ‘vision for global health’ that committed them to strengthening international co-operation, and promoting research and development spending to combat amr. these commitments were echoed at the first g20 summit to address amr, in china in september, which issued a statement calling for prudent use of antibiotics and a consideration for affordability and access. importantly, the need for a one health approach across human and animal health and agriculture and the environment has been recognised, including through supporting the work of the world health organization (who), food and agriculture organization (fao), and the world organisation for animal health (oie).

the united nations (un) general assembly held a high-level meeting on amr in new york in late september last year. this culminated in all 193 member countries making a landmark declaration to take international, co-ordinated action across health, agriculture and other sectors, to tackle the causes of amr. countries without national amr action plans also reaffirmed commitments to develop these based on the who’s global action plan on amr. this was only the fourth un declaration on a health issue, following those on hiv, non-communicable diseases and ebola. 

delivering sustained international action and investments to deliver on these commitments and plans is now the key challenge. we have seen some further action from international partnerships. for example, the uk and china partnered on a joint amr research, funding initiative and are contributing $50 million each to initiate a global antimicrobial resistance research innovation fund. the evaluation of the european commission’s 2011 amr action plan, to which the 英格兰vs美国谁会赢？ contributed, also showed some initial achievements including: greater participation in european antibiotics awareness day; amr research and development funding programmes; and various activities to promote better usage of antimicrobials and surveillance. the commission will be scaling up its efforts with a new action plan in 2017. 

over 2016, the 英格兰vs美国谁会赢？ ’s policy team were involved in several activities to raise awareness of amr and the importance of microbiology. dr isabel spence, head of public affairs, participated in discussions at a ministerial side event to the un meeting in new york, which included ministers representing the uk, australia, argentina, kenya, south africa and sweden. glaxosmithkline’s chairman of vaccines announced an industry roadmap for progress on combating antimicrobial resistance. created by 13 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, the roadmap includes commitments to improve access to antibiotics and reduce environmental impacts from their production. 

policy officer dr paul richards represented the 英格兰vs美国谁会赢？ and the learned society partnership on amr (lespar) at science and stormont 2016, which brought together the science community and members of the northern ireland assembly to discuss amr. society irish division member, dr fiona walsh, presented about amr in the environment. the society, as a member of lespar and the european federation of biotechnology (efb), also supported a biology week 2016 public debate on the role of innovation and regulation in tackling amr, chaired by efb vice-president and society member professor jeff cole.

andrew day

public affairs intern

paul richards

policy officer
[email protected]