A high-level meeting at the United Nations General Assembly later this week aims to put the growing threat of drug resistance back in the spotlight — but translating a political declaration into action will require global coordination and better incorporation of the needs of low- and middle-income countries, experts say.
Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, renders essential drugs such as antibiotics ineffective, making it one of the world’s most pressing global health threats. A landmark study published last week estimated that from 2025 to 2050 there will be 39.1 million deaths attributable to AMR, and 169 million deaths associated with AMR, with the highest mortality rates affecting countries in the global south.
But despite the greater risk to low- and middle-income countries, the focus of international agreements so far has been centered around the needs of high-income countries, critics say. A viewpoint published in The Lancet earlier this year warned of a “great divide” in the priorities and agendas of countries in the global north and south.
About the author
Catherine Davison
Catherine Davison is an independent journalist based in Delhi, India, writing on issues at the intersection of health, gender, and the environment.
