Kathmandu: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has already become a global health emergency, putting nearly a century of medical achievements at risk as common infections grow increasingly difficult to treat.

Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said the discovery of antimicrobials transformed modern medicine, but widespread misuse and overuse have accelerated resistance in bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
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ccording to WHO data, one in six bacterial infections worldwide is now resistant to standard antibiotics, contributing to nearly 5 million deaths in 2019, of which 1.3 million were directly caused by drug-resistant infections.

In the Western Pacific region alone, WHO estimates that up to 5.2 million people could die from drug-resistant bacterial infections between 2020 and 2030 if urgent action is not taken.

“Antimicrobials are precious, fragile tools — and we are in danger of losing them,” Piukala said, stressing that the alarming rise of AMR requires coordinated regional and global efforts.

At the 2024 UN General Assembly, governments committed to reducing deaths from drug-resistant infections by 10 percent by 2030. However, implementation gaps persist: rural clinics in many countries still lack basic diagnostic tools and essential antibiotics, while hospitals face staffing shortages and delays in laboratory reporting that hamper antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Piukala emphasized that tackling AMR begins with responsible antibiotic use.
“When people take antibiotics only when necessary, they help protect everyone. When clinicians prescribe wisely, they safeguard hard-won medical advances. When hospitals strengthen infection control and invest in reliable, affordable diagnostics, lives are saved,” he said.

WHO called on all nations to accelerate action to prevent antimicrobial resistance from becoming an even more devastating global crisis.