The United Nations report calls for a collaborative One Health approach to tackle antimicrobial resistance crisis

A new report from the United Nations Committee, The Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG) warns that if no action is taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damages to the economy could be as catastrophic as during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. It has been estimated that currently at least 700 000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections including 230 000 people, who die from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In the future scenario common diseases like respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections would become untreatable. In addition, by 2030 antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty as health care expenditure would increase dramatically. The report emphasizes that human, animal, food and environmental health are closely interconnected and it calls for a coordinated, multisectoral “One Health” approach. The report makes recommendations in five different categories: accelerate progress in countries, innovate to secure the future, collaborate for more effective action, invest for a sustainable response and strengthen accountability and global governance. Actions need to be taken now, there is no time to wait.

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Read the report here: https://www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/interagency-coordination-group/final-report/en/