Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar reaffirmed the government's dedication to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improving infection control, as reported by the Egyptian Cabinet on Monday. This statement was made during the Second National Conference on Infection Control and AMR, organised in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and Eva Pharma. Minister Abdel Ghaffar referenced warnings from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which estimates that AMR could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 without immediate action. He emphasised the escalating threat posed by drug-resistant pathogens, which not only increase mortality rates but also prolong hospitalizations and raise healthcare costs. The minister further noted that Egypt was a pioneer in addressing AMR, launching a national strategy in 2018. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt introduced its National AMR Plan in May 2023, focusing on improving infection control in hospitals and implementing electronic surveillance of resistant microbes. As part of the plan, infection control programmes are mandated in at least one hospital per governorate, with a goal of expanding to 80 hospitals by 2025. A recent evaluation revealed a 64.2 per cent compliance rate with infection control measures across Ministry of Health hospitals, prompting corrective actions where necessary. Minister Abdel Ghaffar also highlighted the launch of an initiative to strengthen infection control in 217 neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), which has helped reduce infections and mortality among newborns. Additionally, the strategy has bolstered the electronic monitoring of antibiotic-resistant microbes in healthcare facilities. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
