Participation of South Centre Member Countries in the WHO GLASS: Progress and Gaps in AMR Surveillance and Stewardship Efforts

The study assesses how 55 South Centre Member States are engaging with WHO GLASS’s AMR and antimicrobial use surveillance, finding that while some progress has been made since GLASS’s 2016 inception, significant gaps remain: only about 60 % report antimicrobial resistance data and 38 % report antimicrobial use data to the system, with COVID-19 having disrupted surveillance activities. These gaps are tied to limited laboratory capacity, weak digital infrastructure, workforce shortages and broader systemic constraints in low- and middle-income settings. To strengthen AMR monitoring and stewardship, the paper recommends integrated national AMR action plans with realistic timelines, investments in labs and workforce, interoperable digital reporting systems, and enhanced regional collaboration, enabling more resilient surveillance that informs policy, protects populations, and supports global health security.