Linking the global and local AMR response with the attainment of UHC and better PPR – AMR people centred approach
Date: Thursday 30 May 2024, 19:00 – 21:00 CET (90 minutes + 30 minutes networking and cocktail reception)
Venue: InterContinental Genève, Room Madrid (in-person only event)
Download the Key Messages
Download the Concept Note & Programme
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in an Era of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Pandemics
Since 2018, the Asia-Europe Foundation Public Health Network (ASEF PHN) has been playing a leadership role in highlighting the links between addressing AMR while achieving UHC. Building upon the outcomes of the meeting conducted in 2018 , a follow up conference “Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in an Era of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Pandemics” was organised by ASEF, together with the AMR Clinical Reference Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in February 2023. The conference demonstrated the benefit of tackling AMR while progressing towards UHC, which leads to better Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR).
- Most health systems have been developed based on the assumption that effective and affordable antimicrobials would be readily available. However, due to AMR, the effectiveness of antimicrobials is no longer guaranteed. This places the sustainability of health systems in jeopardy. In addition, lack of access to infection prevention measures, timely diagnosis, and appropriate, quality-assured treatment are major health system gaps in addressing AMR.
- Elements required within health systems in order to effectively address AMR, such as effective infection prevention and control, surveillance of AMR and AMU, microbiology labs, timely diagnosis, rational use of medicines and the capacity to develop and produce new therapeutic agents, are also useful features in the context of PPR. Addressing AMR under health systems will strengthen PPR capacities that contribute to Global Health Security (GHS).
Consequently, WHO proposed an initiative titled “Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by strengthening primary health care (PHC): Piloting the AMR People Centred Approach in priority countries” to test the WHO people-centred approach to addressing AMR in human health and the core package of interventions at the PHC level of implementation..
AMR People Centred Approach
While a multisectoral, One Health, response is essential given the complex drivers of AMR across sectors, there is also an urgent need to strengthen the human health sector response to AMR. To enable a sustainable and comprehensive response to AMR, it is crucial to link/mainstream AMR interventions at the country level more firmly with health systems strengthening efforts, including to achieve UHC through primary health care (PHC) and building capacity for PPR efforts.
Mainstreaming AMR requires a shift from addressing AMR as purely a biological phenomenon, and instead placing people and their health needs and health system challenges along the people AMR journey at the centre of the response. This journey includes: prevention of infections; access to health services; access to timely and quality diagnosis; and access to appropriate treatment and care. This approach also requires greater understanding of, and the need to address AMR interventions at different levels of care from primary care to secondary and tertiary care, under a broader national and/or subnational policy framework while ensuring community engagement and empowerment across the continuum. “Leaving no one behind” should be the guiding principle.
To provide guidance to countries for a more comprehensive and programmatic response to AMR in the human health sector linked with health systems strengthening efforts, WHO has developed a “People-centred approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance in human health“. With many countries looking to revise their National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR, and given the urgent need to accelerate sustainable implementation, this framework provides a core set of 13 high-level priority interventions (see the picture below) that can be integrated into broader health system strengthening efforts at country level, in particular, into primary health care initiatives.
The AMR core set of 13 high-level interventions are well aligned with both the WHO “Operational framework for primary health care” and its core strategic and operational levers, and International Health Regulations (IHR)/joint external evaluation (JEE) Core country capacities. WHO is also working on specific “entry points for action” to address gender and other inequalities that impact the implementation of these 13 interventions.
Implementation – Indonesia and Thailand
Country missions to Indonesia and Thailand were conducted in January/February and May 2024 respectively.
Objectives of the Side Event
The overall aim of this event is to advocate for actions against AMR, especially by using a health system approach. Member states are encouraged to address AMR as part of health system strengthening effort while progressing towards UHC and better PPR. Practical lessons learnt through the implementation of AMR People Centred approach in selected countries will provide possibilities for other member states to adopt similar strategies. This unique approach is expected to accelerate the global fight against AMR in the human health sector, leading toward better global health security. The event is also an opportunity to further advocate at the WHA, at UNGA HLM, and at G7, G20 for additional technical and financial assistance to support low-and middle-income countries in addressing AMR by strengthening their health systems through this people-centred core package of AMR interventions.
