Health experts on Thursday re-echoed the significant threat to global health posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), if it remains unchecked.

Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng and Dr. Yaw Ampem Amoako, who discussed the importance of maintaining patient safety and the effectiveness of antibiotics in the face of growing antimicrobial resistance, pointed out that it will potentially cause millions of deaths each year by 2050, should current trends persist.

They were speaking during a virtual media roundtable organised by Pfizer to raise awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship.

Dr. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director West Africa Pfizer, explained that AMR occurs when microorganisms no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of severe illness and death.

He said overuse of antibiotics is contributing to stronger germs, leading to infections that are difficult and expensive to treat, with around 700,000 people currently dying each year due to drug-resistant diseases.

Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng, a Clinical Pharmacologist and Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), pointed out that AMR increases morbidity, mortality, and economic costs.

He stressed the importance of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes (ASP) to promote rational antimicrobial use and protect public health, saying there is a strong need for collaboration by health care providers, governments, and patients to achieve the desired results.

Dr. Yaw Ampem Amoako, Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and also Infectious Diseases Physician and Research Scientist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), added that such programmes optimise antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, reduce AMR, and save healthcare costs.

The two experts emphasised the need for a limited and appropriate use of antibiotics, especially as the development of new antibiotics is challenging due to economic hurdles.

The roundtable emphasised the urgent need to address Antimicrobial Resistance through collaborative efforts, education, and responsible use of antibiotics to ensure the effectiveness of treatments and safeguard public health.

The forum also agreed that while policies and regulations abound to regulate antibiotics use in Ghana, there is the need for their efficient and effective rollout to engender widespread compliance.