Meeting:

140th WHO Executive Board Meeting

Geneva - Switzerland

Agenda Item:
7.2 Antimicrobial resistance

Statement:

Honorable Chairperson of the Executive Board, Distinguished Delegates,

Today, I speak on behalf of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation, an organisation with over
350,000 members across 81 countries.

IPSF continues to stress the perils of antimicrobial resistance - a fundamental threat to global health and safety
according to former Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon. This threat extends beyond public health, causing many
social and economic consequences and endangering the Sustainable Development Goals we want to achieve.
The United Nations affirmed in their 71st session on the 21st of September that AMR will kill 300 million
people by 2050.

The Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance Report, Recommendation 18, noted many knowledge
gaps in AMR regarding topics such as the use of alternatives to antimicrobials. They also expressed concern for
the limited investment in research and development for major antibiotics.

In corresponding to objective 1 of the WHO global action plan against AMR, IPSF believes that it is of utmost
importance to make sure AMR includes the knowledge gaps stated by (TATFAR). IPSF urges member states to
collaborate with universities to involve student healthcare professionals. We commend the Memorandum of
Understanding created by China and the UK to establish new AMR research and collaboration.

In conclusion, IPSF believes investment in AMR initiatives begins with student-involvement. By ensuring the
expansion of AMR modules in the pharmacy curricula, which captures the knowledge gaps stated by TATFAR,
and incorporating research directed towards discovering new antimicrobial technologies, together we can better
equip tomorrows healthcare professionals to combat AMR.

It is IPSFs hope that we (youth) will be continually involved in initiatives to increase political awareness,
engagement, research and leadership on antimicrobial resistance.

Thank you.

Speaker :

Mr Yacoob Moustafa
IPSF Chairperson of External Relations