Position paper - Working together to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

This paper presents AmCham EU’s policy recommendations on how to address the global health challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In order to reduce the negative impact and spread of AMR, collaboration amongst all stakeholders is essential. We are fully supportive of the need to adopt a holistic approach to this complex issue, as clearly stated in the recent Communication ‘A European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance’. In this paper we propose specific actions pertaining to human health.

The EU and its Member States can and should play a leading role in shaping and promoting the right policies against AMR. These include: antibiotic stewardship; improved and more coordinated surveillance mechanisms; full recognition and increased uptake of vaccines as a key element to decrease the use of antibiotics, but also of medical technologies, such as medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics, e-health and m-health to improve prevention, control and monitoring. Finally, and equally important, we urgently need new sustainable and predictable economic models and incentives for antibiotic, vaccine and diagnostic research and development (R&D) in order to secure appropriate investments for the future.

Please contact Ava Lloyd at ava@amchameu.eu with any questions about this paper.