Eighth UAE International Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance kicks off in Dubai

Dubai – 21-February -2025

The Eighth UAE International Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance announced that the UAE has managed to rationalize antibiotic consumption by 2% during the last period, which led to a decrease in the cost of using antibiotics by 3%.

The conference, which opened yesterday, revealed an 8% decrease in antimicrobial resistance to many antibiotics, most notably related to fungal and viral infections, which speeds up the healing process, reduces recovery days and reduces the number of cases at risk of death, according to Dr. Najiba Abdul Razzaq, President of the Conference and Consultant Internal Medicine at Kuwait Hospital Dubai, part of the Emirates Health Services Corporation.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Emirates Health Services (EHS) are organizing the Eighth UAE International Antimicrobial Resistance Conference in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Eighth UAE International Antimicrobial Resistance Conference, over two days.

Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, and Dr. Abdullah Al Naqbi, Executive Director of the Allied Health Services Sector at the Emirates Health Services, inaugurated the conference on Friday with the participation of more than 700 doctors, experts and specialists.

Al-Rand and Al-Naqbi inaugurated the accompanying exhibition, which includes 15 of the most important pharmaceutical and medical device companies concerned with combating antimicrobial resistance.

The conference will discuss diagnosis, innovative treatments and effective strategies to control infection and reduce antibiotic resistance, how to prevent and treat diseases due to antibiotic-resistant germs, the opportunities available and modern technologies to reduce the incidence of deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance, and the challenges facing today’s doctor in this field.

Over the next 25 years, drug-resistant diseases alone are expected to cause some 39 million deaths, more than 5 times the number of deaths from COVID19 in the past four years.

In his opening speech, Dr. Hussein Al-Rand, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention for Public Health, said: “This conference is taking place in light of increasing health challenges that require us to redouble our efforts to confront antimicrobial resistance, which is a serious global threat to public health.”

He added: “Based on the vision of our wise leadership, the UAE has been keen to develop comprehensive national policies and strategies aimed at strengthening surveillance systems, improving diagnostic skills, raising community awareness and ensuring the rational use of antibiotics.”

He announced that the Ministry of Health and Prevention is working in cooperation with health authorities to develop regulatory and legislative frameworks that support the fight against antimicrobial resistance, in line with international best practices to enhance the sustainability of the health system.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses and fungi develop and do not respond to antimicrobial treatments, making the infection more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of disease spreading, severe illness and death.

The first day of the Eighth UAE International Antimicrobial Resistance Conference will discuss global trends and challenges related to antibiotic resistance and highlight the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing this issue.

Discussions focused on advances in diagnostic techniques, innovative therapies and effective strategies for antimicrobial stewardship, as well as exploring the role of behavioral science in shaping human behavior to promote better outcomes in combating antimicrobial resistance.

The conference aims to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation and action for a future in which antimicrobial resistance is effectively managed and to make infection control a global standard that protects global health.

Antimicrobial resistance

Dr. Najiba Abdul Razzaq, Chair of the Conference as a Consultant Internal Medicine at Kuwait Hospital Dubai, part of the Emirates Health Services (EHS), said: “The Eighth International Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance is the platform that embodies the UAE’s commitment to continue efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance.”

She described antimicrobial resistance as a “silent epidemic”, because usually, when antibiotics are prescribed, the patient is expected to improve when taking them, however, this smooth transition from illness to recovery has become difficult, due to antimicrobial resistance, which is becoming increasingly common. She noted that over the next 25 years, drug-resistant diseases are expected to cause about 39 million deaths, more than 5 times the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the past four years.