UK announces research plan on evolving global health threats
pharmafile | September 26, 2019 | News story | Research and Development |
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies has announced funding for projects to help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and achieve global universal health coverage.
The funding includes £6.2 million to strengthen existing surveillance systems tracking aMR trends across Africa and Asia as well as another £12 million to improve collaborations on health systems research between low-and middle-income countries and the UK.
The £6.2 million in UK aid investment to improve AMR data quality will come from the Fleming Fun, while the £12 million designed to facilitate partnerships between the UK and low and middle income countries such as those found in sub-Saharan Africa. The money will be streamed through the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Research Health programme.
Announcing funding for the projects at the UN General Assembly, Davies warned that the world cannot achieve universal health coverage without first addressing the threat of AMR, which plays a role in 700,000 deaths every year.
If current trends in AMR continue, common infections will become much more complicated and expensive to treat with the potential of affecting tens of millions of people.
The UN has committed to ensuring all people have access to affordable healthcare by 2030.
Sally Davies said: “Achieving our common goal of universal health coverage will require global action on a multitude of fronts, including tackling the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance and investing in research.
“I am delighted to announce this funding, which will catalyse regional collaboration to help strengthen AMR systems across Africa and Asia and support the next generation of health policy and systems research.”
Nik Kiran
