Leading SustainAbility’s portfolio in health – including work with major pharmaceutical companies, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and the AMR Industry Alliance – Denise Delaney reflects on the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the need to spur collective action on it through engaging diverse stakeholders and partners.
What kind of action is needed and where?
I was pleased to participate in the World Federation of Public Health Association’s International Global Health & Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop 2018 during the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva. In the run up, SustainAbility proudly joined many other organisations as a supporter of the WFPHA’s Call for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance. As part of the workshop, I led a conversation on the role of the private sector on AMR.
SustainAbility knows the contributions of the life sciences industry – biotechnology companies and SMEs, biopharmaceutical companies, generics medicine companies, and diagnostics companies – well, having been involved in the development of the metrics framework and first progress report for the AMR Industry Alliance, an alliance of over 100 companies and associations committed to work against AMR through R&D, stewardship, access and the environmental impact of manufacturing. The first progress report was issued in January 2018.
What kind of partnerships involving the private sector are possible?
What did the group come up with in just 30 minutes in response to my prompts: What role can the private sector play? Which industries are best positioned for impact? What kind of action is needed and where? What kind of partnerships involving the private sector are possible?
From the healthcare and life sciences industries to food and agriculture, a broad set of private sector actors have a role.
As Professor Bettina Borisch, Executive Director of WFPHA, put it at the start of the day: we convened for the “the public’s health” – with, for and by the public. I left the day with a renewed commitment to continue to work on this complex topic.
Based in London, Denise leads sustainability strategy and stakeholder engagement projects spanning a variety of sectors, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical, food and beverage and energy sectors. She also leads SustainAbility’s European membership of the Engaging Stakeholders Network.