Minister Forssmed,
My sister Inger, dear GLG members, colleagues and friends,
I thank Minister Forssmed for chairing this meeting in Prime Minister Mottley’s absence, and I thank Inger and my fellow Quadripartite principals for their leadership and collaboration.
I join the Chair in welcoming warmly the five new GLG members.
Thank you for your commitment to advocating for action on AMR.
Last year’s High-Level Meeting on AMR at the UN General Assembly provided a bold framework for action, with clear targets.
However, as we all know — the world is facing serious challenges due to reduced development assistance for countries, and for WHO itself.
This affects many areas of public health, including the response to AMR, especially in low-and middle-income countries.
As Prime Minister Mottley told the UN General Assembly last month, AMR risks reversing decades of medical and economic gains.
New data from the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System, or GLASS, from over 100 countries shows that resistance is both widespread and increasing.
In 2023, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide was caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Resistance continues to increase by between 5 percent and 15 every year in key bacteria, and is more widespread in lower-income countries, and in places with little capacity to prevent, diagnose or adequately treat antibiotic-resistant infections.
As we face the mounting toll of AMR, the work of the Global Leaders Group is more important than ever.
Today’s agenda reflects both the complexity of the challenge and the clarity of our task.
We must focus on political advocacy for AMR financing, and work to bring coherence to the various AMR governance mechanisms.
Today’s discussions are an opportunity to build on recent accomplishments and shape the next phase of the global AMR response.
Together, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to protect the efficacy of life-saving medicines, today, and for generations to come.
On our part, the Quadripartite remains committed to supporting Member States including through an updated Global Action Plan on AMR.
Thank you once again for your dedication to protecting the medicines that protect us.
I thank you.