A One health plan to combat antimicrobial resistance for improving global health through sustainable development

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly growing global health crisis that threatens human, animal, and environmental health, undermines treatment effectiveness, and carries severe social and economic consequences, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where surveillance and sanitation are weak. Rising resistance across pathogens such as E. coli, MRSA, malaria parasites, and fungi, combined with environmental contamination from waste and effluents, amplifies the challenge and jeopardizes progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The resulting higher mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and productivity losses drive up healthcare costs and deepen poverty, yet measuring the true impact remains difficult due to limited data and underreporting. To curb AMR, a comprehensive One Health strategy is required, integrating antibiotic stewardship programs, rapid diagnostics supported by AI and machine learning, stronger environmental controls and waste management, and coordinated policy frameworks that incentivize innovation and strengthen surveillance. Without urgent global action, the already weak antibiotic pipeline and unchecked spread of resistance will reverse public health gains, threaten food security, and impose immense economic burdens, whereas integrated, system-wide measures can preserve antimicrobial effectiveness and support sustainable development.