Tiemo Wölken
Member of the European Parliament and S&D Spokesperson for Health
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health challenges today, claiming over 33,000 lives annually in Europe and threatening modern medicine’s effectiveness.
The economic toll is staggering, costing the EU approximately 1.5 billion Euros annually in healthcare expenses and productivity losses, according to estimates from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Without urgent action, the situation could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050, making AMR a looming crisis we can no longer ignore.
Urgent need for new antibiotics
While we need to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics, we must also work on getting new antibiotics on the market. The European Parliament already completed its work on the pharmaceutical legislation and now awaits the Member States to finalise their stance. Time is running out to implement effective incentives for developing new antimicrobials.
New antibiotics are essential to fight resistant infections, yet these drugs must be used sparingly, creating an economic paradox that stifles investment. Current incentive structures like the ‘subscription-style’ payment model or milestone payments, which decouple profit from use, could provide a viable solution but need immediate implementation.
Strengthening infection prevention protocols
and improving antimicrobial stewardship
(AMS) programmes are essential.
Bacteriophages and rapid diagnostics
Additionally, we must focus on public awareness and preventive measures. Bacteriophages, which remain an untapped resource, offer promising alternatives in the fight against resistant infections. Coupled with this, rapid diagnostic testing is crucial. Ensuring patients undergo quick, point-of-care testing before antibiotics are prescribed would reduce misuse and preserve their effectiveness.
This approach could also help improve healthcare outcomes in rural areas and smaller hospitals, where resources may be limited. Moreover, continuous training for healthcare professionals in both hospital and community settings is vital.
Multidisciplinary teams and equitable access
Strengthening infection prevention protocols and improving antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes are essential. Involving multidisciplinary teams (doctors, pharmacists, nurses and microbiologists) alongside patient advocates can optimise antibiotic use and prevent drug-resistant infections. Support for equitable access to advanced diagnostic tools and AMS education is necessary to provide the infrastructure for effectively preventing, diagnosing and managing infections.
Governments must act swiftly to deliver on AMR incentives while ensuring that both innovative treatments and preventive measures are accessible, with national action plans kept up to date and effectively implemented. Lives depend on our prompt action.
