15 November 2023 – Over the last 50 years, health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have been transformed, leading to improved health outcomes. Among other factors, the ability to prevent and treat infection successfully and cost-effectively has made an immense contribution to this progress. Child deaths have more than halved-from an under 5 death rate of 99 deaths per 1000 in 1990 to 45 per 1000 in 2021. Strong health systems effectively reduce the spread of communicable diseases and work towards their elimination. Surgery and cancer treatment now can be carried out safely with effective antibiotics to manage the risk of infection.

But today, it comes to us as a shock that all these gains are at risk if medicines are no longer effective against the micro-organisms that cause infections. Antimicrobial resistance is not a future threat – it is already taking its toll on health. When we cannot manage the risk of infection, more people die, more people experience chronic infection and suffering, and the costs of health care rise.