Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance is an important issue for the World Bank for a number of reasons. First, the cost of inaction is huge and no country can afford that cost. We estimate that by 2053, 8% of the world’s GDP will be lost due to antimicrobial resistance. Second, we know that the cost of action is modest relative to the cost of inaction, so the resulting return on investment is strong. Lastly, the nature of the AMR problem requires a multisector approach and the World Bank is a multilateral development bank with multiple sectors. There is a massive opportunity to look at this as not simply a public health threat, but also as something that threatens our economic future, which is why the World Bank is so concerned. Global and local mobilization is required if we are going to make significant progress on AMR in the years to come. Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.
