World must step up fight against antibiotic resistance: Merkel

  

  In an address in Geneva Monday, Merkel insisted all nations must work together to root out the problem of antimicrobial resistance — when bugs become immune to existing drugs

GENEVA, MAY 18 – Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday urged all countries to help combat the misuse of antibiotics, which is fuelling drug resistance and allowing long-treatable diseases to become killers.
In an address in Geneva, Merkel stressed the interconnectedness of global health systems, insisting all nations must work together to root out the problem of antimicrobial resistance — when bugs become immune to existing drugs.

“What is important is to see to it that the effectiveness of the existing antibiotics is ensured and that we use them for purely medicinal purposes,” she told diplomats and health experts gathered for the opening of the World Health Organization’s main annual conference.
Merkel said Germany had already agreed to a global action plan for addressing the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, drafted by the WHO, which is set to be considered by all member states during the two-week World Health Assembly.
“I think each and every country ought to agree such a plan,” she told the assembly, stressing that time was of the essence to halt the misuse of antibiotics both for humans and animals.