Global Cause
Bridget Kebirungi
Programme Manager (SPARC), Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health threats of our time, responsible for more than 700,000 deaths annually, a figure projected to rise to 10 million by 2050 without effective action.1
How technology strengthens stewardship
As microorganisms evolve to resist the drugs we use to stop them, we too must evolve to turn back the tide on AMR. In recent years, impetus has been placed on developing new, innovative technologies capable of strengthening AMS.
These technologies are especially valuable in lower-resource settings, which have traditionally lacked the health infrastructure to facilitate coordinated AMS efforts: while AMR is a crisis that knows no borders, LMICs bear the heaviest burden due to shortcomings in funding, capacity and surveillance measures, among other factors.2
Providing access to health resources
A key challenge faced by health systems in LMICs is the overuse of antimicrobials, buoyed by a lack of awareness about AMR, the need for a ‘quick fix’ for infectious diseases and the difficulty of central health governance being unable to reach frontline workers (particularly in rural settings).3
The scoping work undertaken by our team at the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) discovered an overwhelming demand from healthcare professionals for a method of bridging the gap between national AMR strategies and everyday clinical practice.
The Prescribing Companion App, developed by CPA as part of its Surveillance and Prescribing Support for AMS Resource Capacity Building (SPARC) programme, works to make high-quality, country-specific prescribing guidelines available to healthcare professionals at the point of care. First piloted in four LMICs in Africa, the tool has since reached more than 80,000 health professionals in over 200 countries of varying economic statuses, highlighting the need for relevant prescribing resources irrespective of income level.
the tool has since reached more than 80,000 health professionals in over
200 countries of varying economic statuses, highlighting the need for relevant
prescribing resources irrespective of income level.
Championing One Health stewardship
A unique strength of the app is its One Health approach, offering resources for both human and animal health professionals. Veterinary prescribing must be incorporated into national AMS strategies due to the link between AMR in animals and broader public health threats, as resistant bacteria in animals can be passed both to agricultural workers and to consumers.4
However, this has historically faced major resource gaps in LMICs. Believed to be the first core repository of animal health prescribing resources in the world, the app gives veterinarians access to evidence-based prescribing tools, that support responsible use, surveillance and biosecurity, for which it received ‘Highly Commended’ recognition in the Animal Health, Agriculture and Food Supply category at the 2025 Antibiotic Guardian Awards.
Digital tool that drives stewardship
Today, the Prescribing Companion App acts as a digital repository of national and international AMS and infection prevention and control guidelines. It is free to use, and all resources are downloadable to the user’s device: survey data indicates that this accessibility and offline functionality have been key factors behind its rapid adoption and sustained use across so many countries. As one user told us: the app has “helped health workers to be better informed and work better towards fighting AMR, as the information is readily available at their fingertips.”
Turning back the tide
As AMR continues to challenge health systems worldwide, more needs to be done at all levels of healthcare delivery — from policymakers to frontline practitioners — to ensure that antimicrobials can be used to prevent infectious diseases for generations to come. The story of the Prescribing Companion App is one of hope: demonstrating how strategic innovation can drive sustainable change in AMS practice.
Furthermore, the app’s extensive uptake should serve as an indicator to policymakers of the appetite for innovative technologies from healthcare professionals in all settings as they seek to tackle AMR and protect the communities they serve.
[1] World Health Organization. New report calls for urgent action to avert antimicrobial resistance crisis. [online]. World Health Organization: Geneva; 2019 [Accessed 17 October 2025].
[2] Sharma A, Singh A, Dar MA, Kaur RJ, Charan J, Iskandar K, et al. Menace of antimicrobial resistance in LMICs: Current surveillance practices and control measures to tackle hostility. J Infect Public Health. 2022;15(2):172-81.
[3] Pokharel S, Raut S, Adhikari B. Tackling antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health [online]. 2019;4(6). [Accessed 17 October 2025].
[4] Lloyd DH, Page SW. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine. Microbiol Spectr [online]. 2018;6(3). [Accessed 17 October 2025].
