Antimicrobial resistance – a silent pandemic requiring global action now

his week, the World Health Assembly gathers to address health emergencies, including the challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated headlines, other serious health threats like AMR have continued to grow unnoticed.

Unless we take action, we risk seeing a silent pandemic rising – with far-reaching consequences.

It is a fact that more and more infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This means it is more difficult to treat infections, and it leads to more deaths.

Together across the globe, we need to urgently strengthen our resolve and technical capacity to address this crisis, and take decisive and collective action to prevent antimicrobial resistance from becoming the next pandemic.

It is encouraging that 144 countries have now established multisectoral AMR national action plans. But implementation in countries requires increased technical assistance and financial resources.