2017-08-31
A crucial autumn for policy in the field of antibiotic resistance is coming up. Important steps in defining what the global response to the challenge of generating innovation of new crucial antibiotics while ensuring their affordable access and sustainable conservation will likely be taken. Two policy processes in particular will be on our radar: The setup of the G20 International innovation collaboration hub and the Member State consultation on the WHO’s proposed Development and Stewardship Framework in early November. The development and implementation of national action plans at country level will be a third track that we continue to follow and support.
As mandated in the final outcome Declaration from the G20 meeting, which took place in Germany in early July, an international innovation Collaboration Hub will be created with the aim “to maximize the impact of existing and new anti-microbial basic and clinical research initiatives as well as product development”. Details on the specifics on the composition, funding and governance were however left open and will likely be further developed over the coming months.
Guiding principles unclear
It was concerning to see that the Declaration supported by the 20-country group did not make any reference to the UN General Assembly Declaration on AMR adopted by 193 countries in September 2016 which contained spelled-out and agreed upon basic principles for research and development; including a broad support for delinkage from sales volume and price.
It will be important for the coming deliberations to ensure that the UNGA Declaration text and these broadly supported principles form the basis of any discussion of incentives that the Global Innovation Collaboration Hub might engage in.
Broad country representation important
The Member State consultation on the WHO’s Development and Stewardship Framework, which will take place in early November, will also allow broader range of countries to provide perspectives on how to achieve a normative global framework that delivers sustainable solutions for the development, access and conservation of antibiotics.
As many countries have now either finalized their national action plans on antimicrobial resistance or are in the process of developing them, discussions on the global framework promise to be rich on country perspectives and input.
ReAct continues to follow this work on the ground in our regional nodes and provide support for countries in particular through the ReAct Toolbox. Relevant experiences from these country processes will be important to bring to the global level to inform the upcoming discussions.