ASEF Public Health Network (ASEF PHN) spoke at the World AMR Congress 2023 in Philadelphia, PA, USA, on 7-8 September 2023. This is the world’s largest AMR conference for all stakeholders combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
On Day 1 of the World AMR Congress 2023, ASEF PHN participated in a keynote panel titled “What if the next pandemic happened tomorrow?” and moderated a panel titled “The increasing importance of LMICs in finding solutions to AMR”.
The keynote panel included topics on global surveillance for pathogens; preventative measures; and navigating the bureaucracy which hinders the introduction of novel medicines. It also drew lessons learned from COVID-19, particularly on issues related to equitable access and the need for multisectoral collaboration.
The panel highlighted the need to include low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) in the fight against AMR due to the prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens in LMICs. It also underlined the importance of effective diagnostics, in spite of infrastructural issues, as an important part of antimicrobial stewardship.
On Day 2, ASEF PHN hosted a roundtable titled “Strengths and Weaknesses of a One Health approach”. The roundtable was aptly attended by participants from sectors representing the different components of One Health – human, animal and environment. Participants emphasised the need for a culture of collaboration based on trust and respect among the 3 sectors before benefits from a One health approach could be reaped.
To find out more about the World AMR Congress, visit the event website.