Government of Canada invests in a global approach to combat antimicrobial resistance

Reinforcing its commitment to collective actions to address this growing problem

OTTAWA, Nov. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious public health threats to the treatment of infectious diseases worldwide. If action is not taken now, annual worldwide human deaths due to antimicrobial resistance could reach an estimated 10 million by 2050, overtaking deaths due to diabetes and cancer combined.

That is why countries around the world, including Canada, are coming together to identify workable solutions and to coordinate collective efforts.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced that Canada is backing its commitment with a $9 million investment to the World Health Organization (WHO) in support of a comprehensive global approach to combatting AMR. 

At the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AMR in September, Canada adopted the Political Declaration, reiterating its commitment to support the WHO's Global Action Plan on AMR and to help other countries address AMR, while continuing to take action at home.

Canada's contribution, marking Antibiotic Awareness Week, is the largest single-year funding contribution the WHO has received to address this growing health challenge. The funds will support the WHO—working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization of Animal Health—in developing a global package of initiatives that will address the human, animal, agricultural and environmental aspects of the fight against AMR.  

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has committed to develop a Pan-Canadian Framework on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada by 2017. This Framework, being developed jointly with the provinces and territories and other key partners in human health, animal health, agriculture and other sectors, will guide collective action in tackling antimicrobial resistance in Canada.
• The Pan-Canadian Framework will complement the Federal Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada, which was released in March 2015. The Federal Action Plan laid out the concrete actions the Government of Canada is taking to address AMR.
• At the 68^th World Health Assembly in May 2015, WHO members, including Canada, endorsed a Global Action Plan to tackle AMR. 
• The Global Action Plan and Canada's actions take a One Health approach to this public health challenge. The One Health approach uses input from the human health sector, as well as the animal health and agri-food sectors, to coordinate efforts to lessen the impacts of AMR.

Quotes

"The global health challenges we face today are becoming broader, more complex and more difficult to address. That's why we need collective, whole-of-society approaches to address them. Canada is firmly committed to being a partner in collaborative efforts to address antimicrobial resistance, both globally and at home. Through our collective response, we can succeed in addressing the serious threat posed by AMR."
The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Health

"Canada has a long history of leadership on global health issues. We're committed to working with our partners to support efforts to address Antimicrobial Resistance and advance our objective for the world's poorest and most vulnerable communities to live healthier lives.‎"
Marie-Claude Bibeau
Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

Contacts: Andrew MacKendrick, Office of Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983