Stopping the looming crisis of antimicrobial resistance: Senator Ravalia
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As a physician and now as a senator, I have become increasingly alarmed by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in my community, across Canada and around the world. This growing threat demands our urgent attention and action.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as the point when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to the medications designed to treat them. This means that antibiotics, antifungals and other critical treatments become ineffective, turning once easily treatable infections into severe, life-threatening conditions. AMR is now recognized as one of the top global threats to public health, earning the stark label of a “silent pandemic.”
The week of November 18 to 24 marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week: a global campaign to raise awareness, enhance understanding and promote best practices among stakeholders in the WHO’s One Health Initiative. The goal is to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections that endanger the health of people, animals and our environment.
The impacts of AMR are already being felt across Canada. According to a 2019 report by the Canadian Council of Academies, resistant infections were responsible for more than 14,000 deaths, costing our health-care system more than $2 billion annually. Without decisive action, these figures are projected to soar. By 2050, it is estimated that resistance rates could reach 40%, potentially resulting in the loss of nearly 396,000 Canadian lives and a $388-billion hit to the country’s GDP.
The theme of this year’s awareness week — “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.” — is a call to action for all of us. We must use our voices — whether speaking with patients, constituents or the broader public — to highlight the urgency in addressing AMR. Raising awareness is not just a responsibility; it is a vital step toward safeguarding our future.
While there is no single solution to the AMR crisis, there are steps we can take immediately. One of the most effective tools we have is education. Antibiotics are indispensable to modern health care, but their overuse and misuse accelerate the development of resistance. We need to shift the narrative: not all illnesses require antibiotics. These drugs should be reserved for when they are truly necessary, whether for treating severe infections, preventing complications during surgeries or supporting vulnerable patients undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplants.
Health-care professionals know all too well the challenges of managing resistant infections, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly or those with chronic illnesses. A routine urinary tract infection, for example, can quickly escalate to life-threatening sepsis if resistant to available treatments. However, misdiagnosis or the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics only worsens the issue.
Even when the correct diagnosis is made, Canada faces another significant hurdle: access to new antibiotics. Our country is falling behind. Of the last 18 antibiotics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, only two are available in Canada. This limited access puts patients and health-care providers at risk. When essential antibiotics are not readily available, doctors must navigate a lengthy, bureaucratic process to request them from abroad — a delay that could cost lives.
This brings us to the urgent need for advocacy. We must prioritize the health of Canadians and address the barriers that limit access to new treatments. The Government of Canada has made global commitments at the G7 and G20 to tackle antibiotic market failures, strengthen AMR research and development and bring new antibacterial medicines to market. Despite these commitments, progress has been slow since 2021.
With Canada hosting the upcoming G7 summit, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example. As a nation, we must uphold our past commitments and push for bold, new actions. Our focus should be twofold: reinforcing our commitment to addressing antibiotic market failures and advocating for greater investments in AMR research and development. This is our chance to demonstrate Canada’s leadership in the global fight against AMR.
The time to act is now — and our advocacy must continue throughout the year, beyond November’s awareness week. We must work tirelessly to secure access to new and effective antibiotics and collaborate with our G7 partners to drive meaningful progress.
Canada has the potential to lead in this critical fight. By prioritizing education, advocacy and international collaboration, we can protect the health of our citizens and preserve the effectiveness of life-saving treatments for generations to come.
Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia represents Newfoundland and Labrador and is a former family physician with over three decades of experience in rural health care.
This article was published in The Hill Times on November 21, 2024.
As a physician and now as a senator, I have become increasingly alarmed by the rise of antimicrobial resistance in my community, across Canada and around the world. This growing threat demands our urgent attention and action.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as the point when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to the medications designed to treat them. This means that antibiotics, antifungals and other critical treatments become ineffective, turning once easily treatable infections into severe, life-threatening conditions. AMR is now recognized as one of the top global threats to public health, earning the stark label of a “silent pandemic.”
The week of November 18 to 24 marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week: a global campaign to raise awareness, enhance understanding and promote best practices among stakeholders in the WHO’s One Health Initiative. The goal is to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections that endanger the health of people, animals and our environment.
The impacts of AMR are already being felt across Canada. According to a 2019 report by the Canadian Council of Academies, resistant infections were responsible for more than 14,000 deaths, costing our health-care system more than $2 billion annually. Without decisive action, these figures are projected to soar. By 2050, it is estimated that resistance rates could reach 40%, potentially resulting in the loss of nearly 396,000 Canadian lives and a $388-billion hit to the country’s GDP.
The theme of this year’s awareness week — “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.” — is a call to action for all of us. We must use our voices — whether speaking with patients, constituents or the broader public — to highlight the urgency in addressing AMR. Raising awareness is not just a responsibility; it is a vital step toward safeguarding our future.
While there is no single solution to the AMR crisis, there are steps we can take immediately. One of the most effective tools we have is education. Antibiotics are indispensable to modern health care, but their overuse and misuse accelerate the development of resistance. We need to shift the narrative: not all illnesses require antibiotics. These drugs should be reserved for when they are truly necessary, whether for treating severe infections, preventing complications during surgeries or supporting vulnerable patients undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplants.
Health-care professionals know all too well the challenges of managing resistant infections, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly or those with chronic illnesses. A routine urinary tract infection, for example, can quickly escalate to life-threatening sepsis if resistant to available treatments. However, misdiagnosis or the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics only worsens the issue.
Even when the correct diagnosis is made, Canada faces another significant hurdle: access to new antibiotics. Our country is falling behind. Of the last 18 antibiotics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, only two are available in Canada. This limited access puts patients and health-care providers at risk. When essential antibiotics are not readily available, doctors must navigate a lengthy, bureaucratic process to request them from abroad — a delay that could cost lives.
This brings us to the urgent need for advocacy. We must prioritize the health of Canadians and address the barriers that limit access to new treatments. The Government of Canada has made global commitments at the G7 and G20 to tackle antibiotic market failures, strengthen AMR research and development and bring new antibacterial medicines to market. Despite these commitments, progress has been slow since 2021.
With Canada hosting the upcoming G7 summit, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example. As a nation, we must uphold our past commitments and push for bold, new actions. Our focus should be twofold: reinforcing our commitment to addressing antibiotic market failures and advocating for greater investments in AMR research and development. This is our chance to demonstrate Canada’s leadership in the global fight against AMR.
The time to act is now — and our advocacy must continue throughout the year, beyond November’s awareness week. We must work tirelessly to secure access to new and effective antibiotics and collaborate with our G7 partners to drive meaningful progress.
Canada has the potential to lead in this critical fight. By prioritizing education, advocacy and international collaboration, we can protect the health of our citizens and preserve the effectiveness of life-saving treatments for generations to come.
Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia represents Newfoundland and Labrador and is a former family physician with over three decades of experience in rural health care.
This article was published in The Hill Times on November 21, 2024.