Julian asks Government to build international coalition to tackle antimicrobial resistance
October 24, 2023
At Foreign Office Questions, Julian asked the Minister for Development, Andrew Mitchell MP, if he would “commit to building a coalition of higher-income countries pledging to improve access to antibiotics, diagnostics, education and prevention, which we all know are vital to stopping AMR?”
In response, the Minister said:
“My hon. Friend is absolutely right: AMR is the third biggest killer now. Meetings took place at the UN General Assembly, and I was there in April attending an AMR meeting. We will do everything we can, and we are greatly enhanced in our abilities by the presence of Sally Davies, who is an envoy on AMR. I can tell my hon. Friend that this has the absolute attention of the Government.”
Antimicrobial resistance will contribute to 24 million more people being forced into extreme poverty by 2030 and by 2050 it will contribute to 10 million deaths annually. The time to act is now.
Next September, the UNGA will host a High-Level Meeting on AMR which offers the UK an opportunity to show global leadership by securing commitments from other higher income countries to improve access, diagnostics and prevention in developing countries
This is a global problem that needs global solutions. AMR does not know borders and will only be controlled when all countries work together.
