In a press announcement released yesterday, India has now joined 16 other countries as a Member of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) Hub. For a country that ranks the highest in antibacterial resistance, this move expands global partnership opportunities to address challenges and improve collaboration in addressing the growing epidemic of antimicrobial resistance.
"I am delighted to announce that India has joined the Global AMR R&D Hub through the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India,” said Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT in a press release. “We look forward to working with all partners to leverage their existing capabilities, resources and collectively focus on new R&D intervention to address drug resistant infections.”
The Global AMR R&D Hub was launched in May 2018 in response to the call from G20 Leaders. It supports global priority setting and evidence-based decision-making on the allocation of resources for research on antimicrobial resistance by identifying gaps, overlaps and potential for collaboration. Membership of the Global AMR R&D Hub is open to G20 and non-G20 countries and nongovernmental donor organisations investing in AMR R&D.
With India’s addition, the Members of the Hub now represent more than half of the world’s population, giving a direct link to the significant activities on, and perspectives around, AMR in these countries.
"I am very pleased to welcome India as an important addition to our global partnership. Addressing AMR requires global action with active participation from all world regions and One Health sectors. Expanding the membership of the Hub works towards ensuring that different countries needs are incorporated when considering AMR R&D activities and actions," said Bersabel Ephrem, the acting Chair of the Global AMR R&D Hub Board of Members. He is also the Director General of the Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control at the Public Health Agency of Canada.
This article is based on press releases from Global AMR R&D Hub and DBT.