Delivered by Mario Ottiglio, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Global Health Policy
Check against delivery – Item 8.1, Antimicrobial Resistance
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion today. IFPMA represents leading research-based pharmaceutical companies as well as national and regional industry associations across the world.
IFPMA highly commends the WHO Secretariat for its efforts to generate a Global Action Plan to combat Anti-Microbial Resistance. We applaud WHO’s efforts to collaborate with the United Nations Secretary General to increase political awareness, engagement and leadership on antimicrobial resistance.
We believe that a globally coordinated, multi-faceted policy approach is urgently needed to address each of the challenges contributing to resistance. To this end, we support the implementation of consistent regulations to ensure the responsible use of antibiotics and their good quality, efficacy and safety.
IFPMA will continue to support high quality patient care by strengthening ethical collaboration, transparency and accountability to ensure preservation and safe access to antibiotics. The benefits to be gained by having a continuous pipeline of new antibiotics need to be complemented by ensuring that the medicines are prescribed appropriately and used properly.
IFPMA appreciates the inclusion of an objective on prevention in the draft Global Action Plan. Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions to prevent infectious diseases. Vaccines help reduce the volume of antibiotics used and prevent their inappropriate use, for example against viral infections. Diagnostic tools also have an important part to play in a more effective use of antibiotics.
A combination of push-pull mechanisms, and other mechanisms to create market incentives, is needed. This could be pursued through dialogue around the development of market models that incentivize innovation and ensure sustainable research and development investments.
We stand ready to provide expertise and to help design solutions to effectively combat anti-microbial resistance.
