Dear Global Health Leaders, Policymakers, and Advocates,

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health threats of our time, endangering modern medicine, food security, and environmental health. The Infectious Disease Alliance (IDA) invites policymakers, scientists, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and civil society to take decisive, unified action against AMR.

On March 24, 2025, experts at the AMR Hybrid Event discussed innovative, cross-sectoral strategies that reinforce the One Health approach—integrating human, animal, and environmental health solutions to combat AMR.

AMR is an escalating global crisis that threatens to undo decades of progress in modern medicine. AMR is a complex issue that requires a One Health approach, integrating actions across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors to achieve sustainable solutions. Without urgent intervention:

• Drug-resistant infections could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

• Overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in human health, animal agriculture, and environmental contamination exacerbate resistance.

• Innovation in new antibiotics is stagnant, hindered by broken economic incentives and market failures.

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) struggle with equitable access to effective antimicrobials, worsening global health disparities.

World leaders have committed to reducing global deaths associated with bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030, as outlined in the 2024 UNGA Political Declaration. To accelerate action and increase impact, we must act now.

IDA urges governments, industries, healthcare professionals, researchers, and civil society to adopt concrete, evidence-based measures that align with the One Health framework. Our targeted recommendations include:

✔ Transition from market-driven exclusivity models to milestone-based funding and pulling incentives that reward innovation at critical R&D stages.
✔ Establish a cross-country pull incentive framework, balancing push and pull incentives with predictable, sustainable funding.
✔ Foster public-private partnerships (PPPs) and new discovery platforms that integrate knowledge-based drug discovery approaches to overcome permeability barriers in bacterial cells.
✔ Promote global collaboration strategies to ensure incentives align with international efforts to make antimicrobials accessible and sustainable.
✔ Ensure that incentives are linked to the global availability of new antimicrobials at a fair price, particularly in LMICs.
✔ Involve civil society as a key actor in implementing sustainable antimicrobial use, promoting hygiene practices, and supporting infection prevention through awareness, education, and capacity building.

✔ Implement and advocate for strict antimicrobial prescribing guidelines to minimize overuse and misuse.
✔ Promote rapid diagnostic tools to ensure targeted treatment and reduce unnecessary antibiotic consumption.
✔ Train and educate practitioners on responsible antibiotic use and emerging AMR threats. 

✔ Strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) in healthcare and veterinary settings to reduce infection rates and minimize antimicrobial use.

✔ Emphasize the importance of a systems-oriented approach in AMR management, considering environmental impacts (emission control), animal welfare, and animal health/reduced antimicrobial usage. 

✔ Focus on the security of supply to maintain consistent access to antimicrobials in LMICs. 

✔ Improve animal husbandry practices to reduce the need for antibiotics, emphasizing preventive healthcare and biosecurity.

✔ Facilitate national coordination and collaboration between authorities, industry, and academic institutions to ensure cohesive AMR strategies.

✔ Invest in novel antimicrobial discovery, supporting milestone-based funding models rather than market exclusivity incentives.
✔ Commit to equitable pricing strategies that prioritize access in LMICs without compromising innovation.
✔ Collaborate with governments and international organizations on public-private partnerships for sustainable antibiotic development.

✔ Expand research into alternative therapeutics, including phage therapy, microbiome-based treatments, and AI-driven drug discovery.
✔ Address Gram-negative bacterial permeability barriers, a key obstacle in antibiotic efficacy.
✔ Advocate for global, open-access research initiatives to accelerate AMR solutions.

✔ Mobilize public awareness campaigns to educate communities on antibiotic misuse and infection prevention.
✔ Engage in policy advocacy to ensure governments prioritize AMR in global health strategies.
✔ Strengthen grassroots initiatives promoting responsible antibiotic use in agriculture and community health programs.

The fight against AMR demands urgent, collective action. Each stakeholder plays a vital role in securing the future of medicine. By signing this Call to Action, you pledge to support policies, investments, and initiatives that drive sustainable solutions against AMR.

📢 Join the Movement:

✅ Sign the Call to Action—demand stronger AMR policies and global investment.

✅ Support research and innovation—advocate for new funding models in antimicrobial R&D.