The pharmacy profession around the world is committed to being part of the solution to antimicrobial resistance, ministers at the 74th World Health Assembly, held online, heard today. 

In a statement to the assembly, FIP reported that at least 144 countries have a national action plan on AMR and that it had called on its national pharmacy associations to take an active role in the development and implementation of these plans in its Statement of Policy on the control of AMR. FIP continues to facilitate the essential contributions of our profession to AMR reduction around the world (e.g., through surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial use and resistance, antibiotics distribution and regulation) and is driving action through the FIP Commission on AMR, which is comprised of pharmacy experts with international reach and diverse backgrounds, said Zuzana Kusynová, FIP lead for policy, practice and compliance. Ms Kusynová also highlighted the federation’s imminent AMR activities, which include building a repository of resources for pharmacists in different settings and a broad engagement exercise during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week later this year, taking the form of a series of events that will run in all six World Health Organisation regions. You can read the full statement here.

In addition, FIP is also making statements to the assembly in partnership with the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA; of which FIP is a founding member), the Health Stakeholders Network and others on:

• WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies, including mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic (with the WHPA)
• Global action on patient safety (with the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations and Health Stakeholders Network)
• Health workforce (with the WHPA)
• Substandard and falsified medicines (with the Fight the Fakes Alliance)