Launch of the Antimicrobial Resistance Conference with the participation of an elite group of health sector leaders

The nature of the health challenges facing societies is changing with the expansion of resistance to antimicrobials, which has become an issue with development challenges whose effects extend to human life, the efficiency of health systems, the economy, food safety, and the ability of countries to protect their future generations.

In view of all these challenges, the General Authority for Health Care launched the fourth edition of the “Antimicrobial Resistance – One Health” conference, under the slogan “Together… Connected… Protected”, with the participation of health sector leaders, international organizations, experts and concerned parties. In order to discuss the latest practices and policies necessary to reduce the aggravation of this phenomenon and enhanceCooperation between various sectors.

A challenge that transcends the boundaries of the health sector

To realize the importance of such a conference, we must know that the danger of antimicrobial resistance lies in its ability to undermine one of the pillars on which modern health care is built. As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, treating infections becomes more difficult, treatment periods become longer, and their costs increase, and pressure on hospitals, staff, and health resources increases.

In this context, Dr. Ahmed Al-Sabki, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Health Care, pointed out that antimicrobial resistance has resulted in more than 1.3 million direct deaths, in addition to more than 5 million indirect deaths, which reveals the widening circle of impact that this problem has imposed on societies.

The importance of dealing with this issue is heightened in light of the estimates presented by the World Health Organization during the conference, which indicated that antimicrobial resistance is linked to about 5.8 million deaths globally, with 39 million deaths expected during the period from 2025 to 2050 if current trends continue.

These numbers carry a profound developmental significance. High rates of resistance mean greater health resources are spent treating cases whose complications could have been reduced through prevention, proper diagnosis, and rational use of antibiotics, which hinders the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): good health and well-being.

One Health is an integrated framework for confrontation

Antimicrobial resistance, in one way or another, requires a change in the way the problem is viewed. Because the resistance transmission is related in a wayAn overview of food chains, the use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector and the environment, and patterns of drug circulation.

Therefore, the “One Health” approach comes as a framework that brings together these paths into one system, so that the efforts of health, veterinary, food and environmental authorities are integrated, data and experiences are exchanged, and the fight against resistance is transformed from separate interventions into a coherent national policy.

In this context, the General Authority for Health Care is working on four main axes, including:

• Surveillance
• Rationalization of use
• Preparing guidelines

These axes were based on more than 500 guidelines in more than 25 medical specialties, which support evidence-based medical practice and limitAlso from unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Rationalization of use is a health and economic gain

The optimal use of antibiotics is one of the most effective paths in reducing resistance. Because inappropriate or unnecessary treatment increases the possibility of the emergence of resistant strains, and at the same time doubles the burdens borne by families, health institutions, and the entire national economy.

Hence, the experience of the General Authority for Health Care showed tangible progress in this path, after the program for the optimal use of antibiotics achieved a saving of 32% during the current year, compared to about 22% during the past year.

The value of this drug saving extends to rationalizing health spending and improving the quality of decisionstreatment, reducing complications, and raising the efficiency of resources available to the health system, which is highlighted by the Egyptian approach to building a sustainable model to confront antimicrobial resistance by 2030, based on a number of elements, including:

• Accurate diagnosis
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Governance
• Data

Together, these elements place the fight against resistance within a long-term institutional development path, rather than treating it as a temporary response to an escalating health threat. This helps achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and its services.

Partnerships and innovation are tools for sustainable health

On the other hand, the conference witnessed the signing of cooperation protocols and memorandums of understanding between the Public Authority for Health Care and a number of companies operating in the health sector. With a desire to increase drug education and promote the safe and rational use of medications.

These are partnerships that clearly reveal another aspect of managing the issue of resistance, which is expanding the circle of actors within the health system, and benefiting from specialized expertise, technology, and drug education to support sound practices.

Sustainable development begins with the effectiveness of treatment

The bottom line is that combating antimicrobial resistance is directly related to the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on good health and well-being, but at the same time it intersects with other goals related to food security, effective institutions, partnerships, and protecting…Resources.

From this perspective, maintaining the effectiveness of antibiotics is an investment in the health system’s ability to continue. Every dose used in the correct place contributes to protecting the effectiveness of treatment, every accurate diagnosis reduces the possibility of random use, and every effective surveillance system gives the decision maker a better ability to intervene before the danger expands.

In conclusion, the The Earth Guards Foundation views the battle of antimicrobial resistance primarily as a health and institutional culture that makes prevention and rationalization of use part of daily behavior, in parallel with the development of diagnosis, control, and scientific research.