22 Sep 2023
1 Honourable President, Excellencies, Colleagues.
2 The end of the age of antimicrobials is imminent. Since the introduction of antimicrobials nearly a century ago, microbes have evolved a variety of methods to resist and threaten to undo major gains made in the control of infectious diseases.
3 Tuberculosis is a good example of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Globally, about half a million people fall ill with drug-resistant TB and only 56% of drug-resistant TB patients are successfully treated. Drug-resistant TB requires even longer, more complicated, and much more expensive treatment, putting a huge burden on our healthcare system. However, TB continues to be of a low priority for many, and current investments to make progress in addressing TB are lacking. On the other hand, AMR is increasingly seen as a global health emergency.
4 While new drugs to treat drug-resistant TB have been developed in recent years, resistance to these drugs is already emerging in some parts of the world. In this regard, the TB community must ride on the momentum to safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics and leverage on the political interest of AMR at the global front.
5 To effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance and ultimately end the TB epidemic, bigger investments in research and development are needed for better and more appropriate use of new and existing antibiotics.
6 In Singapore, we have been investing in and growing research infrastructure and human resources related to genomics, drug discovery and implementation science to address resistance before it develops. For example, many patients stop treatment prematurely due to the long duration of treatment, which can cause drug resistance. We have completed a clinical trial to reduce the duration of non-resistant TB treatment from six to two months – a significant stride towards more efficient TB treatment. Beyond providing the optimal TB treatment, research is also underway to find better ways of delivering treatment and to overcome barriers in the healthcare systems, especially in Asia.
7 Beyond research and development, we need to deepen collaboration across sectors and geographies, including public-private partnerships. Effective treatments developed by private pharmaceutical companies require government and public health institutions for deployment. Knowhow and expertise can be better shared between countries.
8 For instance, Singapore’s Saw Swee hock School of Public Health and National University of Singapore have partnered with institutions across Southeast Asia to establish joint research programmes between health authorities, UN agencies, development partners, donors, and non-governmental organisations .
9 Humanity’s victory over smallpox and our hard-fought struggle against COVID-19 is a reminder of what is possible when nations come together to fight a common health threat. Combating antimicrobial resistance and ending the tuberculosis epidemic are intertwined missions that demand our collective action. By addressing these challenges together, we can envision a future where TB is eliminated, and our antibiotics remain effective to safeguard public health.
10 Thank you.
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