In “Leveraging Universal Health Coverage to Leave No One Behind in Tackling AMR,” authors Pamela Cipriano, James Chau, Mariam Jashi, Ilona Kickbusch, Justin Koonin, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Joy Phumaphi, Magda Robalo, and Akihisa Shiozaki emphasize the critical role of universal health coverage in combating antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a grave global health and development threat, threatening to reverse a century of medical advancements. Each year, AMR contributes to an estimated 4.95 million deaths, with 1.27 million directly attributed to it. Universal health coverage (UHC) is crucial to combating AMR, especially for those without access to quality healthcare. Inadequate availability of essential antimicrobials, vaccines, and diagnostics, along with poor infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities, exacerbates the spread of AMR. The upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR presents an opportunity for global leaders to integrate UHC efforts to tackle this pressing issue.