Forecasting the Fallout from AMR: Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health and economic stability, with a significant impact on low- and lower-middle-income countries. The report estimates that AMR increases healthcare costs by US$ 66 billion, rising to US$ 159 billion in a business-as-usual scenario. If resistance rates increase at the bottom 15% of countries, AMR health costs could rise to US$ 325 billion, and the global economy could be US$ 1.7 trillion smaller in 2050. However, if high-quality treatment is provided and innovative antibiotics are funded, health costs could be US$ 97 billion cheaper by 2050, and the economy could be US$ 990 billion larger. Improving innovation and access to high-quality treatment would cost about US$ 63 billion per year, offering a global return on investment of 28:1.