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Geneva, Switzerland – At the 77th World Health Assembly, experts from around the globe, including representatives from India, emphasized the urgent need to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which continues to rank among the top ten global health threats.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted the critical nature of the AMR crisis. “AMR is a growing and urgent crisis which is already a leading cause of untimely deaths globally,” he stated. Dr. Tedros underscored the alarming statistic that more than two people die from AMR every minute, adding, “AMR threatens to unwind centuries of progress in human health, animal health, and other sectors.”
Dr. Kamini Walia, Convener and Co-Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of the Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), echoed these concerns, particularly regarding the impact on low- and middle-income countries, including India. “AMR inflicts significant mortality, morbidity, and economic loss in low-and middle-income countries,” said Dr. Walia, a senior AMR scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). She pointed out the troubling trend of increasing drug resistance in several countries across Asia and Africa, where efforts to contain AMR remain fragmented and insufficient.
Dr. Walia stressed the need for countries to invest in strengthening healthcare systems and prioritizing prevention interventions. These include infection control measures in hospitals and communities and the promotion of vaccinations to curb the spread of resistant infections.
Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan of One Health Trust, a co-author of The Lancet series on AMR, emphasized the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, food and agriculture, and the environment. “AMR has set the stage for advancing the ‘One Health’ approach, which is a recognition that our health is intrinsically intertwined with animal health, food and agriculture, and our environment,” said Dr. Laxminarayan.
The urgency of addressing AMR will be further underscored at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on AMR, scheduled for September this year. Global leaders are expected to discuss and formulate strategic actions to combat this pressing health threat, aiming to galvanize coordinated and sustained efforts worldwide.
The 77th World Health Assembly has thus brought renewed focus to the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance, with experts calling for accelerated global action to prevent a public health catastrophe that could reverse decades of medical advancements.
