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On 4 October 2018, Health Ministers of the world’s 20 largest economies met in Mar del Plata, Argentina, to reaffirm their commitment to global health and sustainable development. Their final political declaration once again includes specific references to the fight against TB and AMR;

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“We reaffirm our efforts to tackle drug-resistance, including its growing threat among gram negative bacterial infections, fungal infections and drug-resistant HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. […] We look to the international community convening to discuss its ambitions to combat AMR beyond the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, and we welcome the outcomes of the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting (HLM) on ending TB as part of our collective efforts to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We acknowledge the first global AMR target to commit to treating 1.5 million people with drug-resistant TB, including 115.000 children.”

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The inclusion of the specific treatment targets agreed to at the UN High-Level Meeting on TB is deemed to be especially meaningful.

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The declaration also goes on to recognise the importance of funding research and development for new antimicrobials, diagnostic technologies, vaccines and other preventative measures, while promoting affordable and equitable access to all individuals in need (para. 14), as well as the need for the strengthening of public health care systems (para. 33).

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The UK was represented by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care, Steve Brine MP, and the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies.

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To read the full political declaration, click here.

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