Consultations begin to finalise 2nd National Action Plan to tackle AMR in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad on Tuesday launched consultations to finalize the second National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), aiming to curb a growing health threat with broad social and economic consequences.

The second phase of the plan focuses on comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) strategies for both public and private healthcare facilities, where AMR is emerging as a critical health crisis. AMR, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites resist standard medical treatments, diminishes the effectiveness of antibiotics and renders common infections harder to treat.

Experts at the two-day consultation, held at a local hotel, emphasized that the unchecked rise of AMR is especially dangerous for low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan, where it not only threatens public health but also poses a significant barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Antimicrobial resistance has had a direct impact on Pakistan’s health system, contributing to increased mortality and straining healthcare resources. According to health experts, AMR could lead to the inability to treat severe infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and post-surgical infections, increasing both morbidity and mortality rates. In Pakistan alone, it’s estimated that several thousand lives are lost annually due to infections no longer responding to first-line antibiotics. The World Health Organization has warned that AMR could lead to an annual death toll of 10 million globally by 2050 if current trends continue.

The NIH’s initiative gathered a broad coalition of stakeholders to identify priorities, develop evidence-based strategies, and mobilize resources for an effective AMR response. The revised National Action Plan seeks to enhance surveillance systems, promote responsible antibiotic usage, and strengthen IPC measures. Effective implementation is anticipated to reduce AMR’s burden health and the economy.

Dr. Malik Mukhtar, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Health, underscored the significance of effective governance in tackling AMR. He stressed that robust inter-sectoral coordination and multi-sectoral collaboration are critical to addressing AMR comprehensively. “The government has taken essential steps, including establishing a National Multi-sectoral AMR Steering Committee to ensure cross-sectoral data sharing and collaboration,” he said, highlighting the need for cohesive policy execution across ministries.

In addition to the steering committee, an AMR Secretariat has been established at NIH to oversee NAP’s execution and foster integration within Pakistan’s health systems. Dr. Muhammad Salman, CEO of NIH, stressed the need to incorporate AMR efforts into the national One Health framework. He also advocated for expanded investment in surveillance to track resistance trends and enable targeted interventions, crucial to preventing the spread of resistant pathogens in both urban and rural settings.

AMR’s implications also have a severe economic impact. The rise of drug-resistant infections means more expensive treatment options and prolonged hospitalizations, which put additional pressure on Pakistan’s healthcare budget. According to the World Bank, by 2050, AMR could push as many as 28 million people into poverty. With the adoption of this revised action plan, Pakistan seeks to reduce AMR-related infections, protect public health, and contribute to global AMR containment efforts, NIH officials said.