Confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029

Antimicrobials are crucial in modern medicine, treating infections, surgery, and cancer therapies. However, resistance to these drugs can lead to less effective treatments, posing a significant public health threat. In 2019, the UK published its 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), aiming to control and contain AMR by 2040. To achieve this, the government committed to developing 5-year national action plans. The first plan, ‘Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’, focused on reducing AMR’s negative impact, including reducing antibiotic use in food-producing animals, developing improved surveillance systems, and piloting new payment schemes for antibiotics on the NHS. The 2024 to 2029 plan builds on the first plan, focusing on human health, animal health, agriculture, and the environment, with nine strategic outcomes organized under four themes.