European AMR Patient Group
Rue du Trône, 60
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Brussels, 28 November 2023
Honorable Minister Riina Sikkut,
In the wake of the World and European AMR Awareness Week (18th – 24th November) we are reaching
out to you on behalf of the European AMR Patient Group and concerned Members of the European
Parliament to request a meeting with you to address the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
(AMR) — a so-called silent pandemic menacing global health. Your leadership within your healthcare
system positions your Ministry to play a pivotal role in combatting this crisis.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that AMR claims over 35,000
lives annually across the EU, Iceland, and Norway. This stark statistic underscores the urgency for
action in alignment with the Council of the European Union's Recommendations on AMR.
We advocate for a One Health Approach, acknowledging the interconnectedness of human, animal,
and ecosystem health as a foundation for AMR mitigation strategies. Despite Europe's progress, the
need for national-level initiatives is acute. We seek the Ministry of Health's commitment to the
following objectives:
1. Support: Strengthen national strategies against AMR through investment in research,
surveillance, and prevention programs. We believe that enhancing compliance with well-
established preventive measures—like hand hygiene, checklists, and safety protocols—and
leveraging digital technologies are vital for infection control. While research and development
of new pharmaceutical products is paramount in this fight, we need to diversify our response
and put a greater emphasis on existing measures to prevent and contain infections that are
not pharmaceutical.
2. Dissemination: We urge you to spearhead public education campaigns on AMR, emphasizing
responsible antibiotic use in both the medical and agricultural domains, following the One
Health approach. This can significantly reduce antibiotic misuse and overuse.
3. Awareness: Collaborate with healthcare professionals, patients, and industry to foster
improved prevention and control measures, responsible antibiotic prescribing and ensure
access to effective treatments.
Page 1 of 3
Health First Europe
Rue du Trône 60, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 62 61 999
[email protected]
www.healthfirsteurope.eu
4. Exchange of Good Practices: Promote the sharing of best practices and encourage diagnostic
tools and innovative technologies to inform antibiotic usage.
5. Concrete Actions: Implement measures to fortify infection prevention in healthcare and
veterinary settings. Advocate for the research and development of new antibiotics, alternative
treatments, and vaccines.
Beyond health implications, AMR poses economic and societal challenges. We recommend enhanced
governance, increased healthcare investment, and incentives to spur innovation in treatment
technologies.
For all these reasons, we kindly request a meeting in the next month to further discuss how can the
AMR Patient Group contribute to achieve the Ministry’s efforts to effectively combat AMR.
Your support, leadership, and commitment to addressing this critical issue will be invaluable in our
collective fight against AMR. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate and make a
meaningful difference in this vital area of healthcare.
Thank you for your consideration of these vital issues.
Sincerely,
MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen, EPP National Association for Patient Participation
MEP Sara Cerdas, S&D GILS - Gruppo Italiano per la lotta alla
Sclerodermia
MEP Sarah Wiener, Greens
UNIAMO Federazione Italiana Malattie Rare
MEP Manuela Ripa, Greens
Associazione Respiriamo Insieme
RePE (Rete Pazienti Esperti)
AMR Patient Group
AVEC (Assoiation Vie Et Cœur)
IAPO
Malta Healh Network
Fondazione The Bridge
Bulgarian Association for Patients' Defense
Pelvic Pain Support Network
KARKINAKI
Foro Español de Pacientes
European Forum for Primary Care
Save Liver Association for Patients - SLAP
France Sepsis Association
The Patients Association
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Health First Europe
Rue du Trône 60, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 62 61 999
[email protected]
www.healthfirsteurope.eu
European Patient Forum ANTRUK - Antibiotic Research UK
Patients for Patient Safety Ireland National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)
AMR Patient Alliance, Switzerland Miracle Premature Association
IAPO P4PSO (Patients for Patient Safety (Prematurföreningen Mirakel)
Organisation)
Active Citizenship Network
Patients' Rights Association in Kosovo - PRAK
The AMR Narrative
Czech National Association of Patient
Organizations
European Lung Foundation
Norwegian gastrointestinal association - Mage-
tarmforbundet
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Health First Europe
Rue du Trône 60, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 62 61 999
[email protected]
www.healthfirsteurope.eu
Saatja: TA Info <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 29.11.2023 08:04
Adressaat: <"SM Info">
Teema: Ed: Call for Action: the AMR Silent Pandemic
Saatja: Secretariat | HEALTHFIRSTEUROPE <> Saatmisaeg: teisipäev,
28. november 2023 18:12Adressaat: TA Info <>Koopia: Hana Bartakova
<>Teema: Call for Action: the AMR Silent Pandemic
Tähelepanu! Tegemist on väljastpoolt asutust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu
saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.
Dear Minister Riina Sikkut,
We are honoured to be addressing you the letter that you can find in
attachment, sharing with you our suggestions to act against the AMR
silent pandemic.
The letter has been co-signed by several Members of the European
Parliament who are supporting our activities, as well as by all the
members of the .
By this letter, we would like to attract your attention to the very
urgent necessity of taking concrete action at national level, within
hospitals and towards your citizens. Awareness, research, infection
prevention, screening and clear indications on the terrible effects of
antibiotics misuse have to be the number one priority in health policies
for the years to come in all Member States.
We need to adopt a united method in tackling AMR, using the One Health
approach.
That's why we are very happy to be able to send you that letter and to
kindly ask you for a meeting to discuss these issues more in depth and
ensure that AMR, that is costing lives of 35,000 every year within the
EU, is being dealt with in the most efficient manner.
We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate and make a meaningful
difference in this vital area of healthcare.
The AMR Patient Group
Erika Zavan
Health First Europe
SecretariatRue du Trône 60, First Floor, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
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