New report calls for collective action to fight ‘silent pandemic' of Asia's growing antimicrobial resistance
A new report by Temasek Trust initiatives calls for more funding to tackle antimicrobial resistance in Asia (AMR), which could become the leading cause of death by 2050. The report, released May 5, outlines four key areas where funders can drive meaningful impact - from education and prevention to surveillance and treatment.
"Antimicrobial resistance is on track to become the deadliest health threat facing humanity. But with urgent action and targeted finance, over 100 million deaths could be prevented by 2050," reads the report by the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and the World Economic Forum's GAEA (Giving to Amplify Earth Action) initiative, supported by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA).
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are accelerating bacterial growth and disease transmission, while disrupting healthcare and immunisation services, say the report's authors. Climate-related pressures are also driving the increased use of antimicrobials in livestock and crops, contaminating freshwater sources and fuelling drug resistance, they add.
In Asia Pacific, AMR-related costs are projected to reach up to US$700 billion by 2050, accounting for up to 1% of the region's GDP. However, timely investment in AMR solutions could generate between US$10 billion and US$15 billion in annual healthcare savings, and cut the region's annual socioeconomic costs by up to US$40 billion within the next decade, claim the authors.
The 52-page report, titled "Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia", draws on insights from 15 case studies and examples of funding mechanisms, along with contributions from 26 organisations.
New therapeutics, such as drugs and vaccines, can take 10 to 15 years to develop and launch to market. Hence, the authors call for immediate and practical interventions to curb resistance today and pave the way for long-term solutions.
The report proposes interventions in four areas:
Educate: Improving knowledge and behaviour by strengthening awareness of AMR among clinicians, patients and farmers; emphasising the importance of avoiding the overuse or abuse of antimicrobials; as well as introducing strategies to prevent infections in the first place.
Prevent: Strengthening health systems and services by boosting preventive measures such as improving diagnostic capabilities and investing in better water, sanitation and hygiene measures.
Monitor: Enhancing regional surveillance, and data collection and sharing between actors, especially in lower-income countries.
Treat: Investing in research and development for new antimicrobials, and increasing access to novel and essential medicines.
Private funders, impact investors and philanthropists have a vital role to play in closing critical gaps, say the authors, particularly in late-stage drug development, where funding is scarce.
By pooling resources, funders can help bring life-saving treatments to market, strengthen the antibiotic pipeline, and build more sustainable and widespread access to essential medicines.
PAA CEO Shaun Seow says the report is a catalyst for deeper involvement from all sectors - philanthropic, public and private. "It highlights the scale of the AMR threat and the opportunity for collective action. We are encouraged by the ongoing work of organisations - including PAA members like the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust and Novo Nordisk Foundation - in driving AMR research and greater access to affordable solutions. Now is the time for more partners to come together, pool resources and support high-impact solutions that safeguard health and resilience across Asia and beyond."
Infographic: CIIP, GAEA, PAA
See Also:
Click here to stay updated with the Latest Business & Investment News in Singapore
'Green revolution' needed to solve issues like food systems and nutrition, says President Tharman
Trump administration will 'come around' on importance of partnerships: Bill Gates
WEF, GenZero launch Green Fuel Forward initiative to scale sustainable aviation fuel demand in APAC
Read more stories about where the money flows, and analysis of the biggest market stories from Singapore and around the World
Get in-depth insights from our expert contributors, and dive into financial and economic trends
Follow the market issue situation with our daily updates
Or want more Lifestyle and Passion stories? Click here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth (UNH) Stock Rated Outperform Despite Lowered Price Target by Leerink
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) ranks among the . On July 15, Leerink Partners maintained its Outperform rating on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) but lowered its price target from $355 to $340. The firm noted that as the market awaits UnitedHealth to reinstate its 2025 financial forecast, investor expectations have been 'moderately fading' over the past month. Ken Wolter/ According to Leerink Partners, the market typically anticipates earnings between $18 and $19 per share, so guidance in this range should allay worries due to the 'materiality of the reduction in overall margins.' Such a forecast, according to the analyst report, would lay the foundation for a 'multi-year margin story,' with growth possibly picking up speed in 2027 as UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) departs V28. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a renowned US multinational corporation that provides managed healthcare and insurance services. The company operates through four main segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. While we acknowledge the potential of UNH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Read More: and Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
SkyMD inaugurates clinic in New Mexico to provide dermatology services
Dermatological services provider SkyMD has inaugurated a new clinic in New Mexico, US, enhancing specialised skin care accessibility for the local population. The Albuquerque-based facility introduces a hybrid model of care by providing in-person appointments, as well as virtual services for tele-dermatology. Local patients can now access direct consultations with board-certified medical doctors at the clinic, which complements SkyMD's telehealth platform. This care approach provides flexible options for individuals seeking expert dermatological care, ranging from routine skin checks to complex conditions and outpatient surgical procedures. SkyMD has a focus on skin cancer, with the new clinic employing dermatologists proficient in the diagnosis, early detection, and treatment of different skin cancer types. These include basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. SkyMD CEO Bart Calame said: "We are thrilled to bring SkyMD's patient-centric approach and specialised dermatology services to Albuquerque. "Our mission is to provide exceptional, accessible skin care. By opening this new clinic, we are not only expanding our footprint but also offering a unique hybrid model that combines the convenience of telehealth with the personalised care of in-person visits, particularly for critical areas like skin cancer detection and treatment. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Albuquerque healthcare landscape." The Albuquerque clinic's range of services includes cosmetic, general, and surgical dermatology, along with specialised procedures, with a particular focus on skin cancer screenings and medical dermatology. All health insurance plans available in the state are accepted by SkyMD. "SkyMD inaugurates clinic in New Mexico to provide dermatology services" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Increases Sharply
Significant liver fibrosis associated with heavy alcohol use rose more than twofold over roughly the past two decades in the US despite alcohol use rates holding steady, which might be explained by risk factors for alcohol-related liver injury in the population, researchers said. Those most likely to be heavy drinkers are women, adults aged 45 years or older, those living in poverty, and those with metabolic syndrome, the data showed. 'Alcohol-related liver disease is the main cause of liver-related death, and these results are a major wake-up call to the dangers of drinking,' lead investigator Brian Lee, MD, MAS, hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, said in a statement. The study was published online on July 23 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology . Call for Increased Awareness To gauge trends in advanced alcohol-related liver disease among heavy drinkers, Lee and colleagues mined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 1999-2020. The primary outcome was a high Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score (FIB-4 > 2.67 for those aged 65 years or younger and > 3.25 for those older than 65 years), which has previously been linked to a 25-fold higher risk for liver-related death. People with hepatitis B or C were excluded. Among 44,628 adults, 2474 were heavy drinkers — defined as at least 20 g/d for women and 30 g/d for men in the prior year. Among heavy drinkers, the prevalence of high FIB-4 — a marker of advanced liver scarring — increased more than twofold over time, from 1.8% in 1999-2004 to 4.3% in 2013-2020, vs an increase of 0.8%-1.4% among non-heavy drinkers. Notably, average alcohol intake stayed the same during the study period, the researchers said. Among heavy drinkers, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome rose from 26.4% in 1999-2004 to 37.6% in 2013-2020, the mean age increased, and a greater proportion was women or living in poverty — factors that can amplify susceptibility to alcohol's liver effects. Supplementary analyses restricting the cohort to adults aged 35-65 years or to pre-pandemic years (1999-2018) confirmed the same upward trends, with significant liver scarring tripling over 20 years. Limitations cited by the authors include the cross-sectional design of NHANES and reliance on self-reported alcohol intake, which can't capture fluctuations over time, and the use of FIB-4 as a surrogate for liver disease. Collectively, the data suggest that increasing morbidity and mortality due to alcohol-related liver disease 'may be related to a population more sensitized to the alcohol-related effects in the liver due to increased baseline risk factors,' the researchers wrote. The findings provide impetus for 'urgent awareness' of the contemporaneous risk for alcohol-related liver disease with heavy drinking and interventions to screen and treat risk factors, they added.
