The need for measurable targets in national action plans on antimicrobial resistance: opportunities for action

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a significant global health challenge that defies simple solutions and requires multisectoral coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration. National action plans (NAPs), which are built on the template of the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan on AMR, offer a critical framework for addressing AMR. However, the lack of measurable targets within many NAPs hinders progress in mitigating AMR and setting up accountability and monitoring frameworks for tracking implementation progress. In this perspective article, we argue that establishing national targets within NAPs will be a critical step towards the effective mitigation of AMR. We selectively review the current landscape of targets in existing NAPs, reflect on the importance of establishing context-specific AMR targets and identify early successes in AMR target development. Finally, we present recommendations for developing clear, measurable, and achievable targets in NAPs to improve AMR outcomes. We finally suggest that success requires not only strong political will but also sustained investments in integrated surveillance infrastructure to facilitate multi-sectoral policy coordination and collaboration in target setting processes.