The 3^rd Global High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), concluded today (Friday) at Kempiniski Hotel, came out with Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on antimicrobial resistance problem.  

The participants signed the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on accelerating the “One Health” Actions on antimicrobial resistance to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to be submitted in the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AMR.

By this Manifesto, the participants will commit to work to achieve three targets;

The first target is to reducing the total amount of antimicrobials used in the agri-food system by at least 30-50% from the current level by 2030. This target is an aspirational target that aims to galvanize strong national and global political action and consolidation of efforts and commitment. The target (30-50%) will allow countries flexibility to adapt it to their context, priorities and resource availability not only on reducing the need for antimicrobials but also on strengthening animal health systems and welfare.

The second target is zero use of medically important antimicrobials for human medicine in animals for non-veterinary medical purposes or in crop production and agri-food systems for non-phytosanitary purposes. This target supports the responsible use is essential in all sectors to preserve modern medicine.

The third target ensures that ACCESS group antibiotics are at least ≥60% of overall antibiotic consumption in humans by 2030. This is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving universal health coverage, including access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

On the other hand, The Muscat Manifesto called upon the Quadripartite organizations and their Joint Secretariat on AMR to provide the necessary sector specific technical support and normative and policy guidance for the implementation of these targets and actions through developing relevant provisions by the governing bodies, stakeholders in human and animal health and related fields, as well as in the agri-food system and the environment, to coordinate the implementation of One Health National Action Plans on AMR at national levels through the engagement of civil society organizations, the private sector, and public and private partnerships across the ONE Health spectrum.

Furthermore, the Muscat Manifesto also called upon all stakeholders to support and provide opportunities for collaboration and partnership between countries, regional economic communities, and international organizations to address AMR in the context of the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development and related targets.

In addition, it called upon all public and private financing institutions and mechanisms to dedicate, leverage and mobilize external financial resources for the implementation of National Action Plans on AMR and for the development of and effective, affordable and equitable access to innovations across all sectors including a sustainable pipeline for new antimicrobials (particularly antibiotics), vaccines, diagnostics, waste management tools, safe and effective alternatives to antimicrobials, and for the development and implementation of innovative and safe infection prevention and control practices, products, tools and processes, including environmental protection and decontamination.

The participants agreed on the Saudi Arabia’s request to host the forth Global High-level Ministerial Conference on AMR.

At the end of the Conference, H.E. Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al-Sabti, Minister of Health stressed, on his speech, that the outcomes of this conference will inform the continuous dialogue on One Health actions in the run-up to the high-level meeting on AMR in the 2024 United Nations General assembly.

The Minister pointed out that the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR will help to accelerate the political actions and coordination among sectors, countries, and organizations. 

The conference witnessed a high-level presence of number of their highnesses and Excellences from the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to the participation of more than (30) ministers and representatives from more than (40) countries worldwide representing human health, animal health and environment.

The Conference is organized by the government of the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (AFWR) in cooperation with Gulf Health Council for the Cooperation Council States as well the Quadripartite Alliance formed by the United Nations to monitor antibiotic resistance - World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Furthermore, the Conference joined directors general, presidents, or representatives of the Gulf Health Council, (WHO), (FAO), (WOAH), and (UNEP).

The scientific agenda of the Conference included ministerial parallel sessions focused on controlling the AMR, challenges and opportunities and reducing their impact on the human, animal health, economic growth and global development.

Moreover, the first day of the Conference contained four key parallel sessions moderated by renowned international speakers from specialized organizations and institutions. The sessions addressed activating response plans at the country level, integrated surveillance, country implementation, political action and financing, and research and innovation.

The first day also of the AMR Conference also witnessed launching of Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform on AMR by the Quadripartite Organizations.

The Conference included today (Friday) four parallel sessions, followed by ministerial plenary discussion on effective collaboration and partnership that would be included within the conference report for follow up.

The theme of the Conference this year is "The AMR: from Policy to One Health Action", that aims to accelerate tackling the antimicrobial resistance at the national, regional, and global levels, as well as to enhance international cooperation.

Several objectives are to be achieved through this Conference including promoting the importance of political commitment to the One Health approach in addressing the AMR issue; highlighting the role of the environment in the spread of AMR and the importance of surveillance and monitoring of both AMR and antimicrobial use across all three domains (humans, animals and the environment), sharing successful examples in implementing the whole-of-government and One Health approaches to mitigate the threat of AMR, as well providing opportunities for collaboration and partnership between countries and international organizations to address AMR in the context of the SDGs.

The issue of AMR has considerable attention on the local and international levels. Hence, the Conference represents a valuable opportunity to leverage global experiences and conceptualize and submit solutions to international organizations and the UN. The Conference aspires to progress from policymaking to framing action and governance indicators to proceeding at the national, regional, and global levels.

It should be noted that the third Conference builds on the success of the two previous Ministerial Conferences held in the Netherlands in 2014 and 2019, which the Sultanate of Oman participated in with a delegation headed by the Minister of Health and a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

The two conferences highlighted the collaborative work to tackle the risk of the spread of antibiotic resistance. During its active participation in these two conferences, the Sultanate of Oman expressed its desire to organize and host the 3rd conference, which was widely welcomed by the participating countries and organizations due to the Sultanate of Oman's reputation.

Conducting the event in the Sultanate of Oman represents a shift for the conference to include other regions beyond the European continent, exchange experiences, and benefit from the actions taken in those countries, which immensely helped to reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes and their adverse effects on the health and economy.

Given the importance of the event, the Sultanate of Oman has been preparing to organize and host this conference in coordination with countries, organizations, and relevant scientific bodies for approximately one year in order to provide constructive content and outcomes that serve as a fundamental addition in countering the risks of AMR locally, regionally, and globally.

In this regard, a supervisory committee has been formed that includes their Excellences Ministers of Health, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, and Information, as well the Chairman of the Environment Authority, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs, MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs, and AFWR’s Undersecretary for Agriculture. The committee supervises the Conference’s organization procedures, adopting the conference program and outcomes, communicating with the Ministers of the participating countries, and discussing details regarding the Muscat Manifesto as a core outcome of the Conference.

Moreover, the organizing committee of the Conference was formed with the chair of the Director General of Diseases Surveillance & Control in the Ministry of Health (MOH), along with representatives from MOH, AFWR, and Gulf Health Council. The organizing committee coordinated all related activities, developed the programs and outcomes, and shared them with Member States in the WHO, the (FAO), and other parties involved in the Conference. The committee also includes sub-teams that are concerned with the various organizational, administrative, and media matters.