Introduction: AMR Belongs in the Pandemic Instrument

Area of Science:

• Global Health Law
• Public Health Policy
• One Health Approach

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in global health security.
• The World Health Organization is negotiating a new international instrument for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health and pandemic preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze whether antimicrobial resistance (AMR) should be included in the new global pandemic instrument.
• To explore the implications of AMR inclusion from legal, public health, and policy perspectives.
• To provide recommendations for strengthening global AMR governance within the pandemic instrument framework.

Main Methods:

• Multidisciplinary scholarship drawing from law, anthropology, history, public health, public policy, economics, and veterinary medicine.
• Analysis of global AMR governance structures and challenges.
• Examination of technical governance opportunities for addressing AMR and future pandemics.
• Review of potential mechanisms within the pandemic instrument to enhance AMR governance.

Main Results:

• The inclusion of AMR within the pandemic instrument is crucial for effective global health security.
• Addressing AMR requires integrated governance that spans human, animal, and environmental health (One Health).
• Technical challenges in AMR surveillance, stewardship, and innovation need to be addressed within the treaty.

Conclusions:

• Integrating AMR into the pandemic instrument is essential for comprehensive pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• The new instrument should incorporate mechanisms to strengthen global AMR governance.
• A multidisciplinary, One Health approach is vital for tackling both AMR and future pandemic threats.