When Medicines Don ’t Work Anymore

Credit: BigstockBy Martin KhorPENANG, Malaysia, Dec 4 2017 (IPS)The growing crisis of antibiotic resistance is catching the attention of policy makers, but not at a rate enough to tackle it.More diseases are affected by resistance, meaning the bacteria cannot be killed even if different drugs are used on some patients, who then succumb.We are staring at a future in which antibiotics don’t work, and many of us or our children will not be saved from TB, cholera, deadly forms of dysentery, and germs contracted during surgery.Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, a think tank for developing countries, based in GenevaThe World Health Organisation will discuss a resolution in May at its annual assembly of Health Ministers on microbial resistance, including a global action plan. There have been such resolutions before but little action.This year may be different, because powerful countries like the United Kingdom are now convinced that years of inaction have caused the problem to fester, until it has grown to mind-boggling proportions.The UK-based Chatham House held two meetings last October and last month (together with the Geneva Graduate Institute) on this issue, both presided over by the Chief Medical Officer of England, Prof. Dame Sally Davies.This remarkable woman has taken on antibiotic resistance as a professional and personal campaign. In a recent book, “The drugs don’t work”,  she revealed that for her annual health report, she decided in 2012 to fo...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Development & Aid Global Global Governance Headlines Health Poverty & SDGs Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news