SWEDEN URGES WHO TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ON ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

17 May 2010

In her plenary speech on the opening day of the 63rd World Health Assembly , Ms Maria Larsson, Swedish minister for public health, urged the WHO to show leadership in tackling antibiotic resistance.

Photo: WHO/Jess Hoffman

We can note that there is an increasing awareness about this major health threat, but far from enough action. The leadership of WHO is urgently needed in this area, she said.

- The matter at hand is so urgent that I encourage all member states to do their utmost to reduce the resistance. And at the same time I urge WHO to commit to this matter in accordance with the resolution from 2005 and report its work to the assembly, preferably next year

In her speech, Ms Larsson also expressed her deep concern with WHO's current financial situation, not least the fact that the proportion of earmarked funding has continued to expand over the last decade or more - sometimes leading to suboptimal allocation of resources.

- We are now living with a situation where decisions by WHA can be implemented only partially, and sometimes not at all within a reasonable time, said Ms Larsson.

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