Tribune News Network
Doha
A comprehensive analysis of global progress to tackle AMR (antimicrobial resistance) will be unveiled in a major report aimed at galvanising concrete action against this urgent threat.
AMR is an escalating global crisis that threatens the very foundations of modern medicine. With 4.71 million deaths annually linked to AMR, this number could rise to 8.22 million by 2050, predominantly affecting populations in the Global South. As bacteria evolve and develop resistance to treatment, they render antibiotics ineffective. This poses a serious threat – not just for individual patients, but for entire healthcare systems and economies.
AMR will be a priority topic for global health leaders to discuss at WISH 2024 – the upcoming biennial summit hosted by Qatar Foundation’s World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). This important summit will bring together global experts to discuss pressing healthcare issues under the overarching theme of ‘Humanising Health: Conflict, Equity and Resilience’.
One of the reports being released at the summit is titled ‘Tackling AMR: How to Keep Antibiotics Working for the Next Century’. This report comes shortly after world leaders gathered in New York to endorse a UN Political Declaration, looks to accelerate efforts to address AMR around the world by providing actionable recommendations. By reviewing global progress across several areas, including surveillance, conservation and sanitation, this report seeks to provide fresh impetus to the political commitments and drive forward priority actions.
The report’s six recommendations provide guidance to the global community, on areas we need to further, faster. One of the most pressing challenges to collective action, is securing financing for National Action Plans. The recent UN declaration highlighting the ambition to fund 60% percent of plans by 2030 leaves unanswered questions on equity, and sustainability. With two fifths of countries potentially still unfunded, it is likely these regions will be facing the burden of AMR most acutely.
WISH Executive Chair and Co-Chair of report Lord Ara Darzi, said: “If we do not prioritise tackling AMR, modern medicine will cease to exist as we know it. That is why I am leading the Fleming Initiative to keep antibiotics working for future generations. By bringing together researchers, behavioural scientists, clinicians, policy makers and the public, we are developing novel solutions to tackle AMR around the world.
This report shines an important spotlight on areas where the global community has made some progress. It also highlights where further efforts must be concentrated. One of the most impactful choices would be to increase access to diagnostics. Currently, 70 percent of sore throats are treated with antibiotics, but the majority are caused by viruses.
I believe we must set a bold new target: by 2030 antibiotics should only be prescribed when need is confirmed by a diagnostic test. This is an ambitious goal which will require unprecedented global co-operation, investment and behavioural change.”As Lord Darzi’s insights illustrate, the fight against AMR is complex but urgent. The solution demands collective action from individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers alike. To protect the progress made in medicine over the last century and safeguard the future of public health, we need to prioritise funding where it is needed most, raise public awareness, ensure equitable access, and advocate for responsible antibiotic use. It is clear is that the battle against AMR is not just a challenge for scientists; it is a critical global health imperative that must be addressed now.WISH 2024, the seventh edition of the biennial WISH summit, will take place in Doha on 13-14 November 2024. To register for a session or for more information, please visit https://wish.org.qa/Lord Ara Darzi
