Global Leaders Call for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, jeopardizing decades of progress in healthcare. The Global Leaders Group on AMR has called on political leaders to make specific commitments to address this crisis at the upcoming high-level meeting on AMR at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26th.
AMR occurs when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. This means the germs are not killed by antibiotics and continue to grow. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, AMR is already a leading cause of death globally, responsible for 1.27 million deaths annually. Uncontrolled AMR is projected to further reduce life expectancy and lead to unprecedented health expenditure and economic losses.
The financial impact of AMR is staggering. A recent economic impact study predicts that with current levels of action, AMR could impose total health expenditures of $412 billion globally per year leading up to 2035. Increased mortality from these infections could result in lower workforce participation and productivity losses of $443 billion per year. The study also estimates an average loss of 1.8 years of life expectancy globally by 2035 without a stronger response.
India’s Situation and Efforts:
In India, the burden of AMR is particularly high due to widespread antibiotic use, often without prescription. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that 297,000 deaths were attributable to AMR in 2019. In response, the Union health ministry launched the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in 2017. Initiatives include establishing infection prevention and control units, developing a digital platform for data collection, and coordinating efforts across human, animal, environmental, and food sectors.
Experts’ Recommendations:
Experts emphasize the need for improved surveillance and monitoring, strengthened healthcare systems, and responsible antibiotic use across all sectors to curb AMR. The Global Leaders Group estimates that effective measures against AMR would cost an average of $46 billion per year but would yield up to $13 for every dollar spent by 2050.
Bold action is required now to mitigate the devastating human and economic toll of AMR. The upcoming high-level meeting at the United Nations General Assembly provides a critical opportunity for global leaders to commit to concrete actions to address this urgent health crisis.
