Mariano Votta*

Director, Active Citizenship Network, c/o Cittadinanzattiva APS, Via Imera, 2 - 00183 Rome, Italy, email: m.votta@cittadinanzattiva.it.

ABSTRACT

The World Health Organisation has recognised antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top ten threats to humanity, which needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency and multi-sectoral interventions. If no effective action is taken, by 2050 the economic impact of AMR could be more severe than the 2008-2009 financial crisis. A recent OECD assessment estimated that, to date, AMR costs about EUR 1.1 billion per year in European countries and will cost EUR 11 billion in Italy by 2050.

Recently, a multi-stakeholder policy initiative has been launched in Italy to include AMR on the agenda of the G7, which is led by the Italian government in 2024. The call to action called “Keeping AMR as a priority for the Italian G7 presidency. Antimicrobial resistance: An urgent problem, a challenge to be launched thanks to Italy” has been endorsed by the scientific society, civic organizations, PAGs, the private sector, etc. with the aim of bringing the issue of AMR to the forefront of the political agenda. Recommendation include to increase investments in push and pull incentives to accelerate AMR innovation, implement stewardship while expanding access to treatments, lead target-setting and monitoring mechanisms, prioritize professional trainings and public health literacy programs.

World leaders have begun to recognise the urgency of taking concrete action to limit the progression of AMR. In September 2024, world leaders will gather for a high-level meeting on AMR at the United Nations General Assembly. This exceptional event will take place in conjunction with the Italian G7 Presidency. No other opportunity seems to us better than this to make significant progress in the fight against AMR. This is why we believe it is crucial that the Italian government makes AMR an independent and priority issue at this year’s Health and Finance Ministerial meetings, demanding and promulgating concrete actions and adequate funding.

Keywords: National Health Service; Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); G7; United Nations; Italy; bacterial infections; civic society; Patients’ Advocacy Groups (PAGs).

Under Peer Review