H.E. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley,
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization,
Dr Monique Eloit, Director-General, World Organisation for Animal Health.
My thanks to Prime Minister Mottley for hosting the seventh Meeting of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, or AMR.
To protect human, animal, planetary and economic health, we must address AMR head on through a One Health approach. I commend the group for progressing on its action plan to combat AMR. Now, as we look down the road to the UN General Assembly 2024 High-level meeting on AMR, there are three key areas in which we can accelerate action.
One, making the economic case for fighting AMR.
The many impacts of AMR damage the global economy. The Global South is hit hardest. If decision makers understand the costs, they can be motivated to act. Making this economic case is an important workstream of the Quadripartite and other key partners.
Two, pushing R&D on prevention.
While R&D is needed to advance the antibiotics pipeline, prevention is key. Stronger engagement with industry and specific regulatory changes can boost R&D on keeping antimicrobials effective, rather than just racing to stay ahead of resistance with new drugs.
Three, increasing funding.
More coordinated action needs increased and predictable funding. The Bridgetown Initiative to reform the international development financial architecture can make a positive difference to developing nations. Opportunities are being explored through the GEF and the Pandemic Fund. Other ways to mobilize funding include realigning incentives, public-private collaboration and eliminating harmful subsidies in agriculture.
Friends,
AMR is a growing threat, and an integral part of the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste. But if we push hard in these three areas, we can protect human, animal, planetary and economic health.
