Global health entities target antimicrobial resistance

Three global health entities have formed a group they said would be charged with catalyzing global attention and action, preserving antimicrobial medicines, and averting the disastrous consequences of antimicrobial resistance.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO) officials said the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance includes heads of government, government ministers, and leaders from the private sector and civil society.

“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest health challenges of our time, and we cannot leave it for our children to solve,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said. “Now is the time to forge new, cross-sector partnerships that will protect the medicines we have and revitalize the pipeline for new ones.”

The group would provide political leadership to address the challenge and increase the need to prioritize best practices to address antimicrobial resistance at global, regional, and national levels.

The panel will also advise and advocate for developing and implementing policies and legislation to govern the importation, manufacture, distribution, and use of quality antimicrobial drugs across all sectors.

Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co. and Jean-Christophe Flatin, president of Innovation, Science, Technology & Mars Edge, Mars, Inc., will serve as U.S. representatives within the group.