Statement – Bold action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) needed

Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, at a side event of the United Nations General Assembly: Fostering cross-country solidarity to address AMR in the WHO European Region and beyond

25 September 2024, New York, United States of America

Excellencies,

Two weeks ago, I was with Minister Liashko and Deputy Minister Dubrov at the frontline in wartime Ukraine, where doctors have to make decisions that mean life or death. Under relentless bombing, I met doctors and nurses trying to access vital drugs for their patients that are just not available - treating wounds that will not heal as a consequence of AMR.

Thank you, Sweden and Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, and all co-hosts, for spearheading progress. For, unless we act quickly, we expect 39 million people to die over the next 25 years due to AMR globally: 3 deaths every minute.

The estimated financial burden for countries of the European Union and European Economic Area alone is a mammoth 11.7 billion euros annually.

The European Region has been a global leader in advancing the AMR agenda. Last year, we developed the AMR Roadmap and AMR Compass to get back on track following the pandemic. I want to stress 4 key points for action.

First, we need more investment to help countries deliver on their plans. We need to make the economic case. Only 12 of 48 national action plans on AMR in the European Region are financed.

Second, we need to commit to a One Health approach. Next month, I will present a One Health adaptation guide to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe to support countries' efforts to address AMR.

Third, we need partnerships, such as the Novel Medicines Platform that WHO/Europe has convened, bringing the pharmaceutical industry, governments, payers and patients together. Thank you to Sweden for their leadership in the Platform's antibiotics working group. We also need partnerships to strengthen community engagement on curbing AMR.

Fourth, but not least, we need mutual accountability. Together with the London School of Economics and Political Science, WHO/Europe is developing an AMR accountability index for Europe and central Asia to benchmark Member States' progress on AMR, and support them.

Tomorrow's high-level meeting is a critical moment to set targets and use available tools. Please have a look at WHO/Europe's photobook "Stories of AMR", being handed out here today, featuring personal accounts from all 53 Member States.

Let's take bold steps tomorrow, together.

Now, I'm happy to give the floor to my good friend, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides.

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