As part of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform monthly updates, we feature perspectives from experts on critical issues, progress, and key initiatives in our joint efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
This month, we spoke with Ambassador Karin Tegmark Wisell, Swedish Ambassador for Global Health, about global governance for antimicrobial resistance.
- Sweden has recently adopted a comprehensive 10-year national strategy on antimicrobial resistance. Could you describe the key principles behind the updated AMR strategy and how its goals reflect Sweden’s vision for sustainable and effective AMR mitigation across sectors?
Sweden’s new national AMR strategy (2026–2035) is grounded in a One Health approach, emphasizing coordinated action across human health, animal health, food production, and the environment. The strategy is evidence‑based, developed through broad cross‑sectoral consultation. By addressing ten target areas the strategy aims to contribute to achieving the objectives decided within the EU and the UN, including the global goal of reducing the global deaths caused by bacterial antimicrobial resistance by 10%. Some of the Strategy’s overall objectives have the end year 2030 if they are based on international commitments, while others end in 2035 and aims to ensure that effective antimicrobial treatments remain available in the long term. The strategy highlights prevention, prudent antimicrobial use, strengthened surveillance, and improved access to diagnostics and effective pharmaceuticals. The vision of the strategy is: A society in which access to treatment with antimicrobials is maintained through cross-sectoral and sector-specific initiatives to prevent infection and limit the development, spread and consequences of resistant microorganisms.
- In your role as Sweden’s Ambassador for Global Health, how do you envision Sweden’s experience informing and contributing to global AMR action and partnerships?
Sweden’s long-standing One Health and Whole of Society approach, based on a solid public health base with strong infection‑prevention systems including not the least WASH and vaccinations, and low antibiotic use in both human and animal sectors provide a practical model for global collaboration. Sweden’s updated 10‑year AMR strategy emphasizes evidence‑based action, cross‑sectoral coordination, responsible antibiotic use, and strengthened surveillance, all of which are highly transferable to international partnerships.
As Ambassador for Global Health, I would highlight Sweden’s experience to support global efforts by:
- Long-standing and strong political leadership that has driven both national and global AMR efforts, exemplified with the Minister of Health and Social Affairs Jacob Forssmed serving as Vice Chair of the AMR Global Leaders Group and clear remits and mandates to authorities to safeguard structures for coordinating the work to curb AMR to enable long-term management.
- Championing prevention‑focused policies and responsible antibiotic use grounded in proven national outcomes – efforts do make a real difference.
- Promoting integrated surveillance and data sharing as cornerstones of coordinated AMR response.
- Strengthening multilateral cooperation, ensuring that global initiatives benefit from Sweden’s long-term, cross-sectoral perspective on sustained access to effective antimicrobials.
- Given the cross-border nature of AMR and Sweden’s active engagement in international platforms, what priorities do you see for global cooperation over the next 5–10 years, and how can Sweden help ensure that national plans align with global AMR commitments? What priority actions do you see as critical to deliver on these?
Priorities for global cooperation need to focus on advancing the global commitments that have been made. In particular the recent UN General Assembly’s Political Declaration on AMR including the launch of an Independent Panel for Evidence for Action against AMR. But also, on strengthening high‑level international leadership where key partners include high‑level groups such as the Global Leaders Group and the Alliance of Champions.
A core global priority is strong collaboration through the Quadripartite (WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP), including coordinated One Health action. At regional levels, such as within the EU, priorities should include enhancing joint stockpiling, crisis preparedness, and implementing One Health approaches through existing EU strategies and recommendations. Priority actions include promoting global cooperation within research and efforts to support models that can bring new antibiotics to the market. Moreover, to push for sustainable animal husbandry practices, phasing out antibiotic growth promoters, and avoiding routine preventive antibiotic use in line with Codex and WOAH guidelines. Expanding the application of international AMR standards across plant, crop, and environmental sectors, as well as ensuring adherence to WHO guidance on safe waste management in pharmaceutical manufacturing, are also central to global AMR mitigation. Global priorities should further include supporting countries affected by crisis or conflict to safeguard access to antibiotics for those in need while maintaining AMR prevention and control measures.
In the Swedish new 10-year AMR-strategy one of the ten target areas focuses on working actively and proactively to ensure that antimicrobial resistance is recognized and managed through global cooperation. This implies that Sweden will continue to show clear and strong leadership in the work to curb AMR, with a particular focus on antibiotic resistance, at the global, European and Nordic levels and to contribute with Sweden’s experiences in the area.