The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging world leaders to take decisive action to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health crisis that could reverse decades of medical progress. This call comes ahead of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York, from September 20-30, 2024.
The key health-focused event during the session will be the second High-Level Meeting on AMR on September 26. WHO warns that without immediate intervention, AMR—where bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to medicines—could cause significant suffering, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, cautioned that “AMR threatens a century of medical progress and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era, where treatable infections become deadly.”
Negotiations for the political declaration on AMR have been co-facilitated by Malta and Barbados. The first UN High-Level Meeting on AMR took place in 2016, and this year’s event underscores the urgency of coordinated global action.
UNGA79 also takes place as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerates efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite progress, health targets are off track, with millions lacking access to essential healthcare. Dr. Tedros emphasized the need for strong health systems, equitable access, and robust pandemic preparedness to build a safer, healthier world.
The week will also feature the Summit of the Future on September 22-23, where world leaders will aim to establish a global consensus on safeguarding the future, including through science-driven decision-making and universal health coverage. Health will be a central theme of discussions on digital health, maternal and child care, non-communicable diseases, and climate change impacts.
WHO’s participation in UNGA79 marks a pivotal moment for advancing health priorities, including pandemic preparedness and response. Dr. Tedros highlighted the need for investments in primary healthcare, set to be discussed in a fireside chat with European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño on September 23.
AMR remains a critical issue on the global stage, with WHO calling for urgent, coordinated action to prevent a future where current treatments are ineffective.
