Event
17 October, 2023
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Addressing the silent pandemic: the UK's response to AMR

The threat posed by drug resistance is real, urgent and devastating. A recent study by the Lancet found that in 2019, over 1.25 million deaths were directly attributable to AMR, making it deadlier than HIV or malaria. Although AMR cannot be solved or reversed, it can, and must, be managed in order to avert this global disaster.

The UK has historically been a world-leader in addressing this threat: publishing our first national strategy and action plan as early as 2000, and adding it to the National Risk Register in 2015.

However, the need to take further, tangible action cannot be overstated. From increasing our use of diagnostic tools to avoid unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, to extending vaccine coverage to prevent common infections, a renewed, cross-cutting approach to AMR stewardship is needed.

There are also crucial lessons to be implemented from the pandemic – to embed sustained cross-government working and communicate public health messages effectively at a local level – which can help us avert an even greater crisis.

Reform is delighted to welcome Lord O’Neill of Gatley, Former chair of the Review into AMR, to lead this private roundtable and discuss the practical steps needed in the new 2024-2029 AMR Action Plan to stem the rise of drug resistance.

This private roundtable will be held in-person and will take place under the Chatham House rule. This event is kindly supported by ABPI.