Recommendation for Promoting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Countermeasures in theBasic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2024

June 11, 2024
AMR Alliance japan

To promote infectious disease control measures to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), AMR Alliance Japan
recommends including the below phrase in the FY2024 Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform.

In addressing antimicrobial resistance, in addition to promoting the One Health Approach,Japan should promote discussion on and implement steps to secure the supply oftherapeutics as well as encourage research and development through market incentives,through collaboration among industry, academia, government, and citizens. These measures
will contribute to national security, including the economy, and help establish Japan as aglobal leader.
In February 2022, British medical journal The Lancet reported that in 2019, an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide
were directly caused by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This was higher than the number of deaths from HIV and AIDSor malaria. In Japan, it is estimated that about 8,000 lives are lost every year due to AMR bacteria. However, this figure
is based on just two strains of AMR bacteria, and the true scale of damage from AMR is thought to be enormous.
Against this backdrop, progress is now being made both in Japan and around the world in measures to combat AMR.
On the global level, in October 2022, the Quadripartite (which includes the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), theUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for
Animal Health (WOAH)) presented the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) for the five years from 2022 to 2026.
AMR control was also brought up in G7 leaders’ declarations and G7 ministerial statements, which mentioned measures
such as surveillance and inspection based on the One Health approach, restoring a sound market for antimicrobials by
providing predictable and sustainable incentives, and engaging in human resource development, including forresearchers.
In Japan, the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform has clearly outlined the importance of AMR
control every year since 2016, when it mentioned “strengthening efforts to promote AMR control and expanding
systems for research, testing, and treatment.” Particularly, the importance of AMR control was made much clearer inthe 2023 version of the Basic Policy, which stated, “In addition to promoting the One Health Approach, in measuresdesigned to counter drug resistance, Japan will promote domestic measures such as securing therapeutic drugs throughmarketincentives,

as

well

as

research

anddevelopment

throughinternational

collaborations

andindustry-academia-government collaboration.” There is strong recognition toward the importance of comprehensive
innovation in all areas of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, which includes maintaining and reinforcing a sustainable,

AMR Alliance Japan (Secretariat: Health and Global Policy Institute) https://www.amralliancejapan.org/Otemachi Financial City Grand Cube 3F 1-9-2, Otemachi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 JAPAN
Global Business Hub Tokyo TEL: +81-3-4243-7156 e-mail: info@hgpi.org

stable supply chain for antimicrobials, with collaboration among industry, academia, government, and citizens. Suchmeasures also contribute to both economic and health security.
Infectious disease control cannot be fully implemented by countries acting alone. Japan has served as a leader inadvancing the global health agenda, including in its role as G7 President in 2023. Looking ahead to the 79th session ofthe UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) in 2024 and beyond, it will also be critical for Japan to fulfill its commitments tothe international community to address AMR.
About AMR Alliance Japan AMR Alliance Japan was established in November 2018 as multi-stakeholder, collaborative organization dedicated to theimprovement of public health through the promotion of AMR countermeasures. As of June 2024, its members include, in Japanese alphabetical order:
MSD K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., The Children and Healthcare Project, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Shimadzu Diagnostics Corporation, Sumitomo Pharma Co.,
Ltd., The Japanese Society of Antimicrobials for Animals, Nippon Becton Dickinson Co., Ltd., The Japan Medical Association, The Japanese Society for
Medical Mycology, The Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences, The Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, The Japanese Society
for Infection Prevention and Control, The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, The Japanese Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, TheJapan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, The Japanese Society of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, The Japan Society of Hospital Pharmacists,
The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, The Japan Pharmaceutical Association, The Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology, bioMérieux Japan Ltd.,
Himeji City, Pfizer Japan Inc., and Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) serves as its secretariat.

AMR Alliance Japan (Secretariat: Health and Global Policy Institute) https://www.amralliancejapan.org/
Otemachi Financial City Grand Cube 3F 1-9-2, Otemachi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 JAPAN
Global Business Hub Tokyo TEL: +81-3-4243-7156 e-mail: info@hgpi.org