Prof. Holger Rohde
University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, ESCMID AMR Action Subcommittee
Professor Chantal Morel
University of Bern, ESCMID AMR Action Subcommittee
international cooperation to ensure equitable and effective responses to the crisis.
The spread of AMR dramatically limits treatment options, globally threatening life-saving medical procedures. LMICs bear a disproportionate AMR burden due to weaker health systems and economic constraints, hindering effective responses and exacerbating the challenge.
Science – policy alliance against AMR
The 2024 UN General Assembly declaration on AMR set ambitious targets to curb AMR by 2030, including reducing AMR-related deaths by 10%, reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use by 20% in humans and 30% in animals, and improving WASH in health care. It also pledged support for LMICs’ AMR action plans. The European Society for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and other scientific societies must actively contribute to the development of evidence-based targets, continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and promote international exchange and knowledge transfer. The UN General Assembly’s decision to establish an independent scientific panel on antimicrobial resistance is an important step forward.
AMR does not respect borders; it is a collective
challenge that requires a unified global response.
The need for global cooperation
AMR does not respect borders; it is a collective challenge that requires a unified global response. To achieve global health resilience, policies must focus on bridging the gap in health system strength between LMICs and HICs. This implies broad measures to improve infrastructure and capacity to combat infectious diseases, as well as better animal management and environmental hygiene which, if neglected, would directly hinder our effort to improve human health. HICs must actively support LMICs through funding knowledge transfer, and a wider regulatory and market environment that improves access to life-saving medicines. These actions are essential for translating the UNGA 2024 commitments into tangible results, and will require sustained political will, adequate funding and robust international cooperation.
Scientists and AMR experts need to be aware of their importance in this process and, and ESCMID and other societies are ready to embrace this responsibility. Their active participation in the independent scientific panel is essential, and the ESCMID-GLG Science-Policy Forum 2025 is a strong signal for closer coalition of scientist and policy makers in the combat against AMR. The establishment of clear accountability mechanisms and regular assessments of progress will be essential to ensure that the global community remains on track to achieve these ambitious goals and safeguard global public health for future generations.
