Bangkok, Thailand – 29 January 2025
The Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2025 Side-Meeting, “Bridging Policy and Action – A Post-UNGA One Health Agenda for AMR,” took place at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Organised by the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform (AMR MSPP), and the International Health Policy Programme (IHPP). The event brought together regional and national experts, policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the Asia-Pacific region. Building upon the momentum from the 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR, the event focused on translating global commitments into actions and practical solutions to mitigate AMR in the region.
Opening remarks: strengthening AMR action in the Asia-Pacific region
The session with H.E. Ambassador Danny Annan, Danish Ambassador to Thailand & Cambodia, highlighted the urgency of collective efforts to address AMR. Ambassador Annan emphasised that AMR is a cross-border issue that requires coordinated action at the global, regional, and national levels, emphasising that “AMR hits the most where it hurts the most”.
Dr. Benyamin Sihombing, from the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) provided an overview of AMR challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral coordination and the One Health approach to address the issue.
Session 1: Turning declarations into action and strengthening coordination
The first session was centred around translating political commitments into effective, actionable interventions to address AMR. Dr. Angkana Lekagul, a researcher at the IHPP, set the stage with her keynote, “Turning AMR Declarations into One Health Actions.” She made prominent how countries in the Asia-Pacific region can transition from policy declarations to practical strategies by strengthening capacities and ensuring sustainable financing, framing AMR as a shared challenge that requires coordinated action across the human, animal, and environmental sectors.
Prof. Rungtip Chuanchuen, from Chulalongkorn University, shared key lessons from Thailand’s experience, stressing the importance of elevating AMR to high-level visibility and establishing a strong national governance structure to support multisectoral collaboration. She made clear how involving all key stakeholders early can build trust while building capacity across sectors and harmonising methodologies. Additionally, Prof. Chuanchuen pointed out the need for integrated monitoring and evaluation from the start to ensure long-term success.
Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy, Veterinary Officer and One Health Expert at Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, continued by discussing the critical need to align funding and resource allocation with national AMR priorities. She highlighted how effective partnerships between governments and international organisations have led to improved AMR management, further reinforcing the idea that AMR is a global issue requiring collective action.
AHM. Bazlur Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication (BNNRC), expanded the discussion to include the role of civil society and media in driving awareness and advocacy for AMR. In his presentation, he highlighted how grassroots efforts can amplify the message of AMR prevention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where local voices can mobilise important change.
Finally, Dr. Scott Newman, Animal Health & Production Module and Regional One Health Program Priority Lead at the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP), concluded the session by emphasising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the mitigation of AMR. He illustrated how FAO’s regional support for AMR initiatives aligns with the One Health approach, bringing together multiple sectors to address AMR holistically, reinforcing the broader theme of integrated action across sectors and regions.
Throughout the session, a clear thread emerged: AMR is a complex, multifaceted issue that requires collaboration at every level—from governments to civil society to international organisations—making the One Health approach an essential framework for creating lasting change.
Session 2: Country-led solutions and capacity building for AMR action
The second session centred on country-led solutions and building capacity for sustainable AMR action, focused on the role of local initiatives and institutional collaboration.
Dr. Usman Zaheer, Regional AMR Surveillance and One Health Specialist, FAO RAP, set the scene for the session by drawing parallels between policy and actions, highlighting the need to close the gap for a concerted response. Dr. Tongkorn Meeyam, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), opened the session by discussing the importance of academic partnerships in strengthening AMR capacity across Southeast Asia. She showcased how academic institutions play a crucial role in providing essential pre- and in-service training, conducting research, and advocating for AMR solutions, underscoring the power of education and knowledge-sharing in addressing this global challenge.
Building on the theme of capacity-building, Dr. Phoutsathaphone Sibounheuang, Deputy Head of the Clinical Pharmacy Department in Lao PDR, highlighted the role of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) in AMR management. She presented preliminary results from an ICARS-supported project in Lao PDR, which focuses on improving antimicrobial stewardship and ensuring the appropriate dispensing of antimicrobials in private pharmacies through the utilisation of GPP. This initiative reflected the broader need for practical, locally driven solutions that target the effective use of antibiotics at the community level, reinforcing the importance of local health systems in addressing AMR.
Dr. Julaporn Srinha, Head of the Veterinary Drug and AMR Containment Section at Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD), continued the conversation with a presentation on Thailand’s approach to AMR containment. She emphasised the country’s focus on evidence-based policies and regulations to support AMR control, drawing attention to the importance of integrating AMR management across human and animal health sectors. Thailand’s national efforts have resulted in a successful reduction of antibiotic use and AMR containment in the human and animal sectors which highlighted the effectiveness of country-led solutions that combine policy, research, and on-the-ground implementation to address AMR holistically.
Throughout the session, the recurring theme was the need for integrated, context-specific approaches to AMR, where academic institutions, local healthcare systems, and evidence-based national policies align to create sustainable solutions. Each speaker demonstrated how capacity- strengthening at national and regional levels is essential for long-term success in AMR control.
The path forward for AMR action
In closing, Dr. Usman Zaheer, underscored the importance of multi-sectoral coordination, cross-border collaboration, evidence-based and equitable approaches to AMR action. As the discussions concluded, participants expressed a unified commitment to turning global declarations into concrete actions at the regional and national levels, aimed at safeguarding the health of people, animals, and the environment across the Asia-Pacific region.
