Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia 2025

Distribution of investment opportunity areas (IOAs) in health across Asia FIGURE 7 18.8%3.1% 25% 53.1%Investment opportunity areas (IOAs) in health across Asia Healthcare provision Medical technology Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals Healthcare retailof the Health lOAs in Asia are identified in healthcare provision, which includes setting up independent clinical laboratories, affordable hospital infrastructure development, low-cost hospital satellite care units and telemedicine53.1 %of the 88 health-related investment opportunity areas (IOAs) identified by UNDP's SDG Investor Maps are in Asia36.4 % Areas for intervention across the antimicrobial value chain Tackling AMR requires a multisystem approach across One Health actors. An important part of the solution to reducing the impact of AMR is to create more effective therapeutics, such as drugs and vaccines. On average, it takes 10-15 years to develop one antimicrobial, from initial discovery to regulatory approval.97 However, while the marathon runners of drug discovery are settling into their stride, microbes continue to become stronger and more drug-resistant. Combating AMR is a race against time – some quick fixes are needed too. This chapter proposes intervention in four areas: The sprints buy time for novel therapeutics to be discovered and launched in the market. These sprints are practical measures that can be implemented now as foundations for longer-term strategies. They include improving antimicrobial stewardship and strengthening health services. Meanwhile, constant surveillance and data sharing can help identify gaps in innovation, predict and pre-empt future superbugs and build monitoring capabilities across the region. The aim is to create a synergistic environment that enables discovery, development and implementation. Philanthropy, investors and innovative financing play a critical role in combating AMR by funding key interventions across these four areas and in supporting One Health actors across the human, animal, plant and environmental contexts to develop and scale solutions. 1 Sprint: Educate Improve knowledge and behaviour.2 Sprint: Prevent Strengthen health systems and services. 3 Sprint: Monitor Enhance regional surveillance, data collection and data sharing. 4 Marathon: Treat Invest in R&D and increase access to novel and essential medicines.Source: UN Development Programme, Private Finance for the SDGs and author’s analysis.96 Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia 21