Antimicrobial resistance is rising, are we doing enough? - PAC investigates
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will examine the Government’s efforts to contain, control and mitigate anti-microbial resistance (AMR) by 2040, on Thursday 27 March. The session follows a report published on the same issue by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Meeting details
Antimicrobial medicines, such as (but not only) antibiotics, are becoming less effective in the treatment of a range of infections, as the number of ‘resistant’ pathogens increases. A continued decline in the effectiveness of these medicines would have profoundly negative economic and societal consequences with formerly routine operations becoming life threatening and food supply chains disrupted. Recent estimates suggest that the NHS spends £180 million annually on AMR in treatment costs. However, with the World Bank estimating a global increase of $1.2 trillion in additional costs by 2050, this figure looks set to rise.
Since 2013, there have been three successive national strategies or ‘action plans’ launched to tackle AMR. However, the NAO recently reported that of the five targets set out by Government in the most recent action plan, only one was met. The report also raised concerns that the overcrowded and undermaintained NHS estate is likely making it more difficult for staff to clean and maintain effective infection prevention and control standards.
In the first panel, the Committee will hear from the author of the 2014 Government commissioned review of AMR, Lord Jim O’Neill and the president of the British Infection Association, Dr David Partridge.
The Committee will then hear from witnesses including Professor Sir Chris Whitty, and the Government’s Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Susan Hopkins, with likely topics including:
- Assessing the UK’s current resilience against antimicrobial resistance;
- Examining the new 2024-49 national action plan to understand if its targets go far enough, and;
- If the level of required behavioural change necessary to address this issue can be achieved in both organisations and the public.