SC Webinar Report – AMS, COVID-19 & Pandemic Preparedness, May 2025
Webinar Report:
Advancing Antimicrobial Stewardship Policies: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Priorities for Future Health Emergencies
By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy
Our recent South Centre webinar examined how the pandemic created a dual challenge for global health:
– MISUSE: 35-75% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics despite low bacterial co-infection rates.
– ACCESS BARRIERS: The pandemic disrupted supply chains and healthcare access, limiting antimicrobial availability in many regions.
This paradox—overuse alongside access challenges—must inform future pandemic preparedness.
Our experts call for:
– Integrating antimicrobial stewardship into emergency response
– AMS frameworks must be established BEFORE health emergencies
– Strengthening surveillance systems and diagnostic capacity
– Ensuring sustainable and equitable access to antimicrobials
Read also our full policy brief for comprehensive recommendations: https://www.southcentre.int/policy-brief-136-25-february-2025/
Download the report:
This article was tagged: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Stewardship, COVID-19, Global Health, Health, Health Emergencies, Health Equity, Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs), Pandemic, Pandemic Agreement, Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Pandemics, Public Health, World Health Organization (WHO)
