News
Drug makers must address access to antibiotics to help slow the superbug threat
09 June 2022
Sustainable access for existing antibiotics: Focus on market challenges
In recognition of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022, the Access to Medicine Foundation will be hosting a panel discussion on both the importance of sustainable access to antibiotics and antifungals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and on the need for collaborations and partnerships between different stakeholders to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Date
Wednesday, 23 November
Time
14:00 - 15:00 CET
Format
Virtual
The Access to Medicine Foundation are taking part in WAAW 2022, by bringing together experts to discuss and raise awareness around the topic of antimicrobial resistance.
Access to Medicine Foundation’s AMR Research Programme Manager, Fatema Rafiqi, will take part in a virtual panel discussion during the WAAW, held between 18 and 24 November 2022.
The discussion will be moderated by Anthony McDonnell from the Center for Global Development, and will be attended alongside other panellists including:
Benedikt David Huttner - Team Lead, Essential Medicines List at the World Health Organization
Jaideep Gogtay - Chief Medical Officer at Cipla Ltd.
Jennifer Cohn - Director of Global Access at The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership
The theme of this year's WAAW is Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together and the discussion aims to address the issue of sustainable access to existing antibiotics and will provide insights on how to identify the right public health partners, harmonise registration across regions, define local demand to introduce generic medicines and support local manufacturing and technology transfers in LMICs.
Preventing AMR in low- and middle-income countries
Limited or no access to antibiotics, including existing first-line generic treatments, is a key driver of AMR. When the right antibiotics and antifungals are not locally accessible, a doctor may resolve to prescribe a less effective alternative that is not only unlikely to cure the patient's infection but also likely to contribute to AMR.
Fatema will be discussing how stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry, can act on providing access to antibiotics and antifungals in LMICs. She will outline the many strategies available to improve access appropriately and sustainably, and how companies can ensure they are more widely used. Finally, she will touch on how chronic issues in access to antibiotics and antifungals in LMICs cannot continue to be overlooked and the importance of both collaboration between stakeholders and addressing market challenges.
If you are interested in this event and would like to attend, please register here.
