79th WHA Individual Statements
Agenda Item No: 12.9. Draft updated global action plan on antimicrobial resistance
Documents A79/5 and EB158/2025/REC/1, decision EB158(6)
As a member of the private sector cluster of the UN Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform on AMR, GSCF welcomes the opportunity to provide input on the draft updated GAP-AMR 2026–2036, ahead of its consideration at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.
GSCF supports the inclusion of a prevention-first policy in the updated GAP. GSCF is concerned that the call in paragraph 40 to curtail over-the-counter sales does not differentiate between the regulated dispensing of non-prescription antimicrobials and the unregulated supply of prescription-only antimicrobials. We call for a rewording that clearly distinguishes these, to avoid misinterpretation of the lawful, evidence-based self-care authorized by competent regulatory authorities.
We also note the absence of any explicit reference to pharmacists in stewardship. GSCF calls for the inclusion of community health professionals, including pharmacists, as central stewardship and equitable access champions in the AMR response.