Global health leaders convene in Saudi Arabia to confront 'silent pandemic'

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Amid growing concern over one of the world’s most urgent health threats, Saudi Arabia is hosting the fourth high-level ministerial meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to confront a “silent pandemic.”

The gathering brings together health leaders and experts worldwide to confront what officials are calling a “silent pandemic” that claims more than 1 million lives annually.

The conference is being held in Jeddah from Nov.14 to 16.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, currently causes 1.14 million deaths each year, with experts warning this figure could surge to 39 million by 2050 if immediate action isn’t taken.

Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia is leading a crucial international dialogue aimed at strengthening the global response to this escalating crisis.

“AMR threatens people of all ages, impacting human, animal, and plant health, environment, and food security," said Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel in his opening remarks. "To successfully contain AMR, we must adopt a comprehensive One Health approach that systematically addresses the obstacles hindering progress."

The meeting also serves as a platform for Saudi Arabia to announce three new initiatives targeting AMR issues, which will be monitored for tangible results.

Dr. Abdullah Assiri, assistant deputy minister for preventive health, revealed that these initiatives will address pressing AMR issues within a tangible timeframe, complete with monitoring and evaluation processes.

Dr. Mohammed bin Khalid Al-Abd Al-Aali, assistant minister of health, highlighted the one health approach, which integrates sectors including human health, agriculture, animal health, and the environment. “The leaders from the member states represent all these domains, sharing ideas and tackling this complex issue,” he said.

The threat posed by AMR is immediate, warned WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Antimicrobial resistance is not a risk for the future; it is here and now, making many antibiotics and other medicines on which we depend less effective, and making routine infections harder to treat, debilitating or deadly."

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy noted effective action could save $99 billion annually in health care costs by 2025 and potentially expand the global economy by $990 billion by 2050.

However, she emphasized the challenges: developing a new antibiotic takes about a decade and costs $1.2 billion, yet bacterial resistance can render these antibiotics ineffective in just two years.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen also said: “The Jeddah Declaration calls for immediate action to protect the environment as part of our AMR response."

She emphasized the need for reduced effluents and waste from pharmaceutical production, agri-food, health care facilities, and municipal systems.