Background
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a chronic risk to the UK which, if not addressed, might erode the population’s health, the economy and the community. The World Health Organization has named AMR as one of the top global public health threats, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths globally each year and rising. The United Nations has predicted that by 2050, AMR will cause 10 million or more deaths, rivalling cancer as a leading cause of death globally.
AMR is also a major issue in agriculture, with antibiotic use in animals and its effect on the environment increasing the prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens, therefore heightening the threat to human health and food systems.
Scope
This investigation will examine what progress the UK government has made in addressing AMR. Issues we will consider include:
- the scale of AMR and the risk it poses
- the current measures and governance arrangements in place to address AMR, including government’s National Action Plans
- progress made by government in addressing AMR, particularly in relation to the actions and targets in the 2019-24 National Action Plan
NAO Team
Director: Tim Phillips
Manager: Paul Wright-Anderson