(Commonwealth)_ Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly recognized as one of the most severe global health threats of the 21st century. Projections estimate that nearly 40 million lives could be lost to AMR infections over the next 25 years, with lower-to-middle-income countries, many within the Commonwealth, expected to bear the brunt of this crisis. Over the last decade alone, estimated AMR-related deaths by 2050 have quadrupled, reflecting the urgency for coordinated global action. If viewed through the lens of conflict, the scale of AMR could be likened to some of the most devastating wars in history, demanding innovative and collective responses.
Pharmacists play a crucial and often overlooked role in this battle. Their responsibilities extend far beyond simply dispensing medicines. They are deeply involved in antimicrobial research, the development of evidence-based prescribing guidelines, the tailoring of treatments to individual patients, and the safe administration of antibiotics across both hospital and community settings. Pharmacists contribute at every stage of the antimicrobial lifecycle, from development to deployment and monitoring, making them indispensable players in the campaign to combat AMR.
The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA), a Commonwealth-accredited organization since 1969, serves as the unified voice of the pharmacy profession across the Commonwealth. In response to the escalating threat of AMR, CPA has stepped into a leadership role, empowering pharmacists to lead AMR mitigation efforts. One of the CPA’s most impactful initiatives has been its work in fostering partnerships to support antimicrobial stewardship.
A notable example is the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS), an initiative funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Fleming Fund and delivered in collaboration with Global Health Partnerships (GHP). CwPAMS establishes structured, multidisciplinary partnerships between hospital teams in the UK and healthcare professionals in African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia. These partnerships are pharmacist-led and designed to encourage sustainable skill and knowledge exchange. Their main focus areas include promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials and strengthening infection prevention and control practices.
The program also builds localized capacity through a ‘hub and spoke’ model. Within each participating country, established and experienced institutions (‘hubs’) support newer or less-resourced facilities (‘spokes’) to adopt improved antimicrobial stewardship practices. So far, more than 6,000 healthcare professionals and countless community members across Africa have benefited from the CwPAMS model, which aligns with the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) mandate encouraging enhanced global and national responses to AMR.
In addition to on-the-ground interventions, the CPA is also active in advocating for stronger global health policies. The organization supports both direct and indirect policy changes aimed at combating AMR. These include advocating for funding of antimicrobial stewardship programs like CwPAMS, lobbying for the resilience of global supply chains to ensure access to high-quality antimicrobials and diagnostics, and working to improve systems that enable early detection and response to AMR threats.
To amplify its efforts, CPA collaborates with a range of Commonwealth-accredited organizations representing various health and social care professions. This collaboration is formalized through the Commonwealth Health Professions and Partnerships Alliance (CHPA), currently chaired by CPA. CHPA brings together pharmacists, doctors, nurses, social workers, and other specialists to form a unified front in advocating for policies that address global health issues, including AMR. This alliance plays an influential role at key events like the annual Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting.
As the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting approaches, health professionals across the Commonwealth are calling for renewed, sustainable investment aimed at strengthening national healthcare systems. Priorities include enhancing prevention, surveillance, innovation, and response capabilities in the face of AMR and other emerging health threats. Such investment is essential to ensuring that healthcare systems can not only tackle present challenges but also protect the future health and economic security of communities across the Commonwealth.
