IAPO Statement on EB148/9 – Antimicrobial resistance

IAPO welcomes the Report by the Director-General on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) implementing resolution WHA72.5 and resolution WHA68.7 (document no.148/11), and congratulates the progress made with setting national policies, surveillance systems and awareness-raising activities in fighting the AMR.

However, further efforts are needed, as this ‘silent tsunami’ threatens to become the next pandemic and revert decades of medical advancement.

The global COVID-19 pandemic, not only spotlighted the impact of infectious diseases on human health, but also affected the continuity of antimicrobial stewardship efforts, by, inter alia, spurring over-prescribing, overuse and self-medication, the scale and effect of which are still unknown. And patients can, and need to play bigger role in this fight, because appropriate antimicrobial use - is everybody’s business. IAPO urges Member States to consider and employ the existing capacity, expertise and outreach of patient and civil society organisations in reinforcing the AMR efforts, and thus ensure achievement of SDGs and UHC.

IAPO is dedicated to fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), through health literacy, patient empowerment, research and support for better patients’ engagement in tackling this global public health threat.

In 2021, IAPO is initiating the AMR Patient Alliance to amalgamate patient-led efforts worldwide with a vision of a world where human-induced antimicrobial resistance is eliminated. IAPO AMR Patient Alliance will give voice to patients in every Member State, and also empower them for sustaining the efficacy of antibiotics for all patients who need them.