Global leaders unite to combat antimicrobial resistance at 4th High-Level Global Ministerial Conference

The Fourth High-Level Global Ministerial Conference on AMR concluded on Saturday with the adoption of the Jeddah Declaration, which outlined significant commitments such as establishing a global scientific panel to address antimicrobial resistance or AMR, launching a Biotech Bridge to promote research and innovation, and establishing a learning hub to raise public awareness about the issue.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, which health experts refer to as the "silent killer," currently kills 1.14 million people each year, with warnings that this figure could rise to 39 million by 2050 if no immediate action is taken.

The conference, which began on Thursday, was attended by a record number of countries and focused on infection prevention, equitable access to antibiotics, and fostering innovation in health solutions, Forbes magazine reported.

The conference underscored the need for global unity in addressing AMR, ensuring the continued effectiveness of antimicrobials, and protecting public health worldwide.

Saudi Health Minister Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al Jalajel stressed the urgency of tackling AMR, calling for enhanced international collaboration to confront the challenge, said a press release issued following the conference.

“We must build on existing partnerships and forge new alliances to secure global health, safety, and development,” Al Jalajel said.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, applauded Saudi Arabia's leadership and efforts to bring stakeholders together to discuss the issue.

“The Kingdom is stepping up on the world stage to address one of the most urgent public health threats,” she said, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative approach to combating resistance and its widespread impacts.

Saudi Arabia unveiled a series of initiatives that support WHO's One Health approach, which addresses AMR through integrated actions in human, animal, agricultural, and environmental health.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has compared AMR's devastating impact to that of climate change in terms of its critical impact on global health, highlighting its potential to undermine the efficacy of lifesaving medicines, Forbes reported.