£85 million pledged to tackle antibiotic emergency

The UK Government has announced a package of up to £85 million to support the international community in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global issue that makes infections difficult or impossible to treat. The funding will be used to partner with countries in Africa to improve access to essential antimicrobial drugs, strengthen surveillance systems for AMR, and establish a Global Independent Scientific Panel for AMR. The funding will be used to explore how the UK might support the delivery of AMR centres globally in alignment with the Fleming Initiative. Additionally, £1.8 million has been allocated to create a dedicated team in the Medical Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) to support creating novel antimicrobials and diagnostics. These new projects build on ongoing international and domestic work to prevent the spread of AMR, including the National Action Plan and partnerships with countries across Asia and Africa.