Each year, at least 700,000 people worldwide, including 8,000 people in Japan, are estimated to die from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) related causes.

For many years since 2016, the Japanese Government’s Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform has included the clause, ” For countermeasures against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance, the government will promote domestic measures, including enhancement of system of research, inspection and treatment, and an international framework,” recognizing the importance of this issue.

 

AMR Alliance Japan recommends that the following wording be included in the 2021 Basic Policies to promote health crisis preparedness related to AMR infectious diseases. The Alliance believe it is important for Japan to fulfill its responsibilities to the international community since victory over infectious diseases cannot be achieved by any one country alone.

“For countermeasures against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance, the government will strengthen systems for surveillance, screening, human resource development, and the stable supply of antimicrobials. The government will also soon establish systems for the sustainable research and development of antimicrobials, and play a leading role in international cooperation.”

This proposal is in line with the text of communique’s out of the G7. The G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting held on June 3-4, 2021, confirmed that G7 countries would “seek to overcome the economic barriers to an endurable supply of antimicrobial products and to ensure sustainable innovation in antimicrobial R&D while encouraging appropriate provisions for stewardship, diversity and security of supply chains, environmental protection in manufacturing and disposal, and global access.” The G7 Finance Ministers’ Meeting held on June 4-5, 2021, also stated We will work together with our health colleagues in the second half of this year, including with industry, to explore proposals for strengthening market incentives for antibiotic drug development to help tackle antimicrobial resistance – the ‘silent pandemic.’”