Experts call for coordinated action across sectors to tackle antimicrobial resistance

CHENNAI Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was associated with more than 4.7 million deaths in 2021, highlighting the need for coordinated action across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, experts said at the sixth Global Media Forum on AMR.

Speaking ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (November 18-24), Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, Director ai-AMR Department, World Health Organization (WHO), and Director, Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, said gaps in financing, surveillance, and coordination continued to hamper global efforts. “Behind these numbers are patients, families, farmers, and communities,” he said, stressing that global commitments should translate into results on the ground.

The updated Global Action Plan on AMR for 2026-2036 seeks to strengthen prevention, surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use and sustainable financing.

World leaders have committed to reducing bacterial AMR-associated deaths by 10% by 2030.

Junxia Song, deputy chief veterinarian and chief of the One Health and Disease Control Branch, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said antibiotic use in livestock could increase by nearly 30% by 2040 without intervention.

Better animal health and farm management practices could reduce use by up to 57%.

Aitziber Echeverria, AMR coordinator, Chemicals and Health Branch, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called for action against environmental pollution, including antimicrobial residues in wastewater.

Kefas Samson, senior technical officer and lead of multisectoral coordination, AMR Department, WHO headquarters, highlighted gaps in diagnostics, surveillance and access to quality-assured antimicrobials.

Jane Lwoyero, programme officer, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), stressed the importance of vaccination and farm biosecurity.

Shobha Shukla, chairperson, Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), and host of the forum, called for a person-centred, rights-based and gender-transformative approach to tackling AMR.

She also stressed the need to balance preventing unnecessary antimicrobial use with ensuring access to effective medicines for those who need them.

The forum also recognised 56 journalists and media professionals as Global AMR Media Awardees 2026 for their contributions to reporting on antimicrobial resistance.