A united front against antimicrobial resistance

Imagine a future where common infections once easily cured by antibiotics become life-threatening again. This is the growing reality posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), now recognized as one of the world’s most urgent public health threats.

Misuse of antibiotics is accelerating drug resistance worldwide, making coordinated action from governments, healthcare professionals, industry, and the public more urgent than ever.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and plants are among the main drivers of this problem. As drug resistance increases, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents lose their effectiveness, making infections harder or even impossible to treat. This heightens the risk of disease spread, severe complications, and death.

Proper antibiotic use is essential to preserve the effectiveness of these medicines, prevent antimicrobial resistance, and minimize adverse effects. Antibiotics are prescribed by physicians to treat and prevent bacterial infections, and they are not effective against viral infections such as the common cold or flu. Antibiotics should always be taken exactly as prescribed, and patients must complete the full course of treatment even if they start to feel better midway through therapy.

Self-medicating with antibiotics should never be done. It often results in using the wrong drug, taking incorrect doses, or stopping treatment too early, all of which can accelerate resistance and lead to complications and adverse side effects. Antibiotics should also never be shared with others or taken if they were prescribed for someone else.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified eight priority interventions to integrate AMR responses into primary healthcare systems. These include enforcing laws to curb over-the-counter sales of antimicrobials without prescriptions and strengthening public awareness on AMR and antimicrobial stewardship among healthcare workers and communities.

The Department of Health (DoH) recognizes AMR as a serious threat to the country’s health system. In response, it worked with other government agencies and stakeholders across sectors to develop the Philippine National Action Plan (PNAP) on AMR 2024-2028.

The PNAP is anchored on the One Health approach, a collaborative and multisectoral strategy that recognizes the interconnectedness of people, animals, and the environment. The goal is to sustainably balance and optimize the health of all three. The plan underscores that AMR cannot be addressed in isolation. Instead, it requires close collaboration among the healthcare, agricultural, and environmental sectors. The PNAP also outlines seven key strategies, including strengthening multisectoral surveillance and laboratory capacity, promoting rational antibiotic use, advancing AMR research, and increasing public awareness and understanding of the issue.

Addressing AMR also requires strong collaboration with the research-based pharmaceutical industry, which continues to invest in innovation to combat drug-resistant infections. The industry plays an important role in helping define and implement policies aimed at preventing a future where effective antibiotics are no longer available to treat infections.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), which represents the global innovative pharmaceutical industry, helped establish the AMR Industry Alliance, one of the largest private-sector coalitions working to provide sustainable strategies to curb AMR. Bringing together more than 100 companies and associations, the Alliance focuses on four key areas: investing in research and development of new diagnostics and treatments; promoting responsible antibiotic use to slow resistance; improving access to high-quality antibiotics and ensuring new ones reach patients who need them; and reducing the environmental impact of antibiotic manufacturing.

In 2020, the IFPMA, together with the WHO, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Wellcome Trust, launched the AMR Action Fund, a groundbreaking $1-billion initiative aimed at bringing two to four new antibiotics to patients by 2030. Supported by 23 pharmaceutical companies from Europe, the United States, and Japan, the fund invests in biotechnology firms and provides industry expertise to accelerate the clinical development of new antibiotics.

Antibiotic stewardship is equally critical in the fight against AMR. Ensuring that both existing and newly developed antibiotics are used appropriately helps preserve their effectiveness. Patients must have access to the right antibiotic at the right time, while last-line reserve antibiotics should only be used when truly necessary. Comprehensive stewardship programs require strong health systems, proper diagnostics, infection prevention and control measures, and sustained patient education.

Preventive measures must also play a central role in addressing AMR. Vaccination, in particular, is a powerful yet often underappreciated tool. By preventing bacterial and viral infections, vaccines reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics and slow the emergence of resistant strains.

We also advocate policies and economic incentives that support the development and sustainable access to new antibiotics. At the same time, stewardship efforts must be complemented by broader strategies such as improved sanitation, better hygiene practices, and stronger vaccination programs.

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex and growing threat, but it is not insurmountable. Through responsible antibiotic use, stronger health systems, continued innovation, and coordinated action across sectors, we can preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for future generations.

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of developing, investing and delivering innovative medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for Filipinos to live healthier and more productive lives.