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Antimicrobial resistance: addressing the risks

Inquiry

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections cause an estimated 1.3m deaths globally each year, and rising, and lead to the failure of antibiotics for treating human illness. 67,000 people experienced an AMR infection in 2023. 2,200 of those people died. The UN has predicted that by 2050, AMR will cause 10m or more deaths, comparable to cancer as a leading cause of death. The increasing dangers it presents a chronic risk to the UK, with severe implications for the population’s health, communities, and economy. 

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will scrutinise how well Government is implementing plans to respond to the risks posed by AMR, through the lens of its work examining systemic existential risks that that Government must address. The Health and Social Care Committee called in 2018 for AMR to be established as a top five policy priority in order to help prevent the virtual loss of worldwide modern medicine. 

The NAO’s 2025 investigation examined Government progress in addressing AMR, particularly in relation to the actions and targets in the 2019-24 National Action Plan (NAP), as well as the ambitions and responsibilities laid out in the 2024-29 NAP. Underpinned by the NAO’s findings, the PAC will hear from senior Government officials  

Please note that the Committee is unable to consider or assist with individual cases. 

Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. 

Please note that the Committee is unable to consider or assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues

If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 23:59 on Thursday 13 March 2025.

This inquiry is currently accepting evidence

The committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until Thursday 13 March 2025.

Read the call for evidence before submitting

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Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 8480 (strictly media enquiries only – contact us via our email for general enquiries)
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA