25.H. Workshop: Challenges in tackling antimicrobial resistance: economic and policy responses
Authors:   Organised by: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies,   Chair persons: Elias Mossialos - UK, Josep Figueras - European Observatory
Published: October 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is driven by inter-related dynamics in the human, animal, and environmental health sectors and one of the most significant and complex current public health issues of our time. Without effective antimicrobials even common infections may become life-threatening and many treatments such as surgical procedures and chemotherapy will not be possible. There is widespread consensus that the response to AMR requires multiple actions, including improving awareness and understanding of AMR, strengthening the knowledge and evidence based through surveillance and research, reducing the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures, optimising the use of antimicrobials in human and animal health and stimulating research and development (R&D) in novel antimicrobials and alternatives. International and national efforts to combat AMR have grown steadily over the last two decades. Two major landmark developments include the launch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015, which asks all countries to develop national action plans by 2017, and the United Nations (UN) General Assembly agreeing a political declaration on AMR in 2016 where countries committed to work at national, regional, and global levels to develop and implement multisectoral national action plans in accordance with the 'One Health' approach. The European Commission also published a One Health action plan against antimicrobial resistance in 2017. However, despite progress at international level, there remains inconsistent progress and implementation of recommended policies to tackle AMR at national level. The UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG) recently concluded that currently the greatest challenge in AMR is not designing a national action plan but implementing it. The contrasting cultures, behaviours and incentives of each sector and relevant stakeholders is what makes the successful implementation of AMR national action plans so challenging. The purpose of this workshop will be to discuss the evidence and thinking on the different facets of the complex problem of tackling AMR for academics and policy-makers. These discussions will be informed by a forthcoming book jointly published by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development titled 'Challenges in Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: Economic and Policy Responses'. The workshop will focus on five key questions; How can implementation of AMR national action plans be strengthened? What is the evidence on the rise of AMR and its health and economic impact? How can AMR be most effectively addressed in community healthcare settings? How can the discovery of new antibiotics be reinvigorated to replace those rendered ineffective by resistance? Can more use be made of vaccines to tackle AMR?

Key messages

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex issue which requires actions across the human, animal, environmental health sectors taking a 'One Health' approach. Improving the quality of governance within antimicrobial resistance national action plans is an essential step to strengthening implementation.