AMR could Cause 10 Million Deaths: UN

• 30 Apr 2019

UN Interagency Coordinating Group has released a report titled "NO TIME TO WAIT: Securing The Future From Drug-resistant Infections".

• The Report says that drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050.

Key Highlights

• Antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis that threatens a century of progress in the health and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Antimicrobial resistance poses a formidable challenge to achieving Universal Health Coverage and threatens progress against many of the Sustainable Development Goals, including in health, food security, clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, and poverty and inequality.
  • Misuse and overuse of existing antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are accelerating the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
• The world has to act urgently. If timely actions are not taken antimicrobial resistance will have a disastrous impact within a generation.
  • Currently, at least 7,00,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases, including 2,30,000 people who die from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
  • By 2030 antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty.
  • Without investment from countries in all income brackets, future generations will face the disastrous impacts of uncontrolled antimicrobial resistance.
• The drivers of antimicrobial resistance lie in humans, animals, plants, food and the environment. Thus a sustained One Health response is essential to engage and unite all stakeholders around a shared vision and goals.
  • The countries should prioritize national action plans to scale-up financing and capacity-building efforts, put in place stronger regulatory systems and support awareness programs for responsible use of antimicrobials by professionals.
  • It is also necessary to invest in research and development for new technologies to combat antimicrobial resistance.

UN Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) on Antimicrobial Resistance

• IACG was established in 2016 in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
• The IACG’s mandate is to provide practical guidance for approaches needed to ensure sustained effective global action to address antimicrobial resistance.

Summary of IACG Recommendations

• Accelerate Progress In Countries
  • Equitable and affordable access to existing and new quality-assured antimicrobials in member states
  • Accelerate the development and implementation of One Health National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan within the context of the SDGs.
• Innovate To Secure The Future
  • Public, private and philanthropic donors and other funders should increase investment and innovation in quality-assured, new antimicrobials.
  • Equitable and affordable access to existing and new, quality-assured antimicrobials should be promoted.
• Collaborate For More Effective Action
  • Systematic and meaningful engagement of civil society groups and organizations is necessary for the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance.
• Invest For A Sustainable Response
  • The IACG emphasizes the need for increased investments in the response to antimicrobial resistance, including from domestic financing in all countries; bilateral and multilateral financing; development institutions and banks; and private investors.
• Strengthen Accountability And Global Governance
  • There is a need for the urgent establishment of a One Health Global Leadership Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, supported by a Joint Secretariat managed by the Tripartite agencies (FAO, OIE, and WHO).
  • There is a need to convene an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against Antimicrobial Resistance to monitor and provide the Member States with regular reports on the science and evidence related to antimicrobial resistance.