India Advocates Multisectoral Action Against Antimicrobial Resistance at Global Conference in Jeddah

Jeddah: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Singh Patel, addressed the 4th Ministerial High-Level Global Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the urgent need for a “One Health” approach to combat the growing global health threat.

Themed ‘From Declaration to Implementation – Accelerating Actions Through Multisectoral Partnerships for the Containment of AMR’, the conference focused on translating commitments into actionable strategies. Patel underscored the importance of fostering cooperation across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to address AMR comprehensively.

In her speech, Patel proposed practical steps to implement commitments made in the declaration on AMR:

1. Strengthening Surveillance: Enhancing detection and data-driven antimicrobial usage through integrated and interoperable systems across sectors.
2. Sustainable Financing: Prioritizing investments in governance and research for long-term AMR containment.
3. Accountability Frameworks: Establishing mechanisms to ensure effective governance and coordinated efforts.

India also expressed strong support for the AMR Multi-partner Trust Fund and the creation of an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR by 2025, as proposed by the quadripartite organizations.

Highlighting barriers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), Patel called for localized solutions, including the establishment of regional manufacturing hubs and stronger regulatory frameworks for affordable access to antimicrobials, diagnostics, and vaccines.

“Tailored, context-specific actions are crucial to effectively address the factors contributing to AMR, which vary across regions,” she noted. India also stressed the need for capacity building in statistical modeling to track progress toward the global target of reducing AMR-related deaths by 10%.

The conference concluded with the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments, aimed at translating the UNGA High-Level Meeting (HLM) Political Declaration on AMR into actionable policies. Key resolutions include:

• Establishing National AMR Committees for multi-sectoral coordination and policy implementation.
• Strengthening funding and monitoring of National Action Plans (NAPs).
• Leveraging AI advancements for accurate data collection and global surveillance reporting.

Patel reiterated India’s dedication to the global AMR agenda, ensuring solutions are both sustainable and inclusive. “India remains steadfast in supporting global efforts while championing equitable and locally relevant approaches,” she stated.

The conference, bringing together global health leaders, showcased the urgent need for multisectoral collaboration to mitigate AMR and protect public health systems worldwide.