79th WHA Individual Statements
WONCA welcomes the commitment to accelerate action on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Primary care is the frontline of antibiotic prescribing: up to 80% of antibiotic use occurs in the community, making family doctors key stewards. AMR is not a distant threat; it shapes daily clinical decisions.
Effective stewardship requires managing complex behavioural aspects of prescribing, including patient pressure, clinical uncertainty, and the need for rapid reassurance. Family doctors navigate these dynamics through trusted, longitudinal relationships. We combine diagnostic precision with clear patient communication to reduce unnecessary prescribing.
WONCA urges Member States to:
• Integrate AMR stewardship into primary care workflows.
• Support point-of-care diagnostics.
• Invest in public education that aligns expectations with safe prescribing.