The vision of Health Minister Matt Hancock for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) includes plans to cut antibiotic use by a further 15% within 5 years, work with the livestock industry to further reduce antibiotic usage and pay "upfront so pharmaceutical companies know that it's worthwhile for them to invest the estimated £1 billion it costs to develop a new drug."
"Any health secretary or minister, who doesn't lie awake at night worrying about that last pack of antibiotics, must have a prescription to some seriously strong sleeping pills," according to Hancock.
The goal is to push for the development of the next generation of antibiotics, ones that are available and accessible to all, said the Health Minister.
"We have today set a target in the UK of cutting resistant infections by 10% within the next 5 years. We're going to cut antibiotic use by a further 15% within 5 years by only using antibiotics when absolutely necessary. Everybody can play a part in only using antibiotics when they're really ill," says the plan.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, every year in the UK 2,000 people die due to drug resistant infections.
Every year in the UK 2,000 people die due to drug resistant infections. Today at #wef19 @MattHancock unveils the UK's new five year action plan to tackle this global threat and preserve antibiotics for generations to come #AMR #AntibioticResistance pic.twitter.com/AE9lKwfXlZ
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 24, 2019
The UK Government's new #AMR plans show a strong commitment to continue its global leadership in tackling this growing threat. We need a world where everyone has access to safe, quality-assured antibiotics when required- I am delighted that the UK is committed to delivering this. https://t.co/5HPr8iBD3u
— Prof Sally Davies (@CMO_England) January 24, 2019
At the same time, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed last year that more than 90,000 people in Britain could die over the next three decades unless action is taken to halt the rise in antibiotic-resistant superbug infections.
READ MORE: Unnecessary Pill Consumption Prompts Antibiotic-Resistant Risks — Lecturer
