Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Enhancing antimicrobial stewardship through pharmacy across the Commonwealth
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial medicines include antifungals, antibiotics, antiparasitics and antivirals. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms like bacteria that cause infection and disease adapt to resist their effect. One of the main causes of AMR is the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial medications in human health, animals and the environment. By 2050 it is predicted that more people will die of AMR related causes than Cancer, making it an urgent crisis. On the 21st of September 2016, 193 countries of the United Nations agreed a landmark declaration to rid the world of superbugs. Without global action it is conceivable that simple infections could soon become entirely untreatable with existing antimicrobials. Pharmacists play a crucial role in the fight to tackle AMR.
A global action plan on AMR
Endorsed at the World Health Assembly in May 2015, this plan aims to ensure the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with safe and effective medicines continues, based on five strategic objectives:
- To improve awareness and understanding of AMR
- To strengthen surveillance and research
- To reduce the incidence of infection
- To optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines
- To ensure sustainable investment in countering antimicrobial resistance

The CPA leads on advocacy with governments globally across the Commonwealth countries and in partnership with several organisations to increase engagement and support for pharmacists to tackle AMR in their own countries
Diane Ashiru-Oredope, CPA Global AMR Lead
The CPA partnerships to tackle AMR
AMR is today’s problem and it needs to be top of everyone’s agendas. This is not an easy issue to solve; increasing awareness of AMR and optimising the use of antibiotics are only part of the solution, but everyone can all a play a part, no matter how small.
The Commonwealth spirit would encourage us to commit to work together and share the tools, resources and expertise that we have to support all our nations in developing and delivering an effective action plan to tackle this issue.
commonwealth partnerships for antimicrobial stewardship programmes
SPARC
antibiotic guardian award winner
CPHOGH FELLOWS
BEAT BAD MICROBES, RWANDA
Publications
Publications featuring
the CPA and CwPAMS
CPD Platform
CPD resources for pharmacists in the Commonwealth
Support us
Help to support our organisation
Get the latest

The CPA and Novartis partner to support pharmacists
The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and Novartis partner to support pharmacists About The Partnership London, United Kingdom (8th November 2021). The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and

Event: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 18 – 24 November World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Every year, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) takes place between the 18th to

Event: AMS Game tournament during WAAW
AMS Game tournament Join the AMS Game tournament which will take place on the 24th of November during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Register to play

Event: The role of pharmacists in AMR Tweetchat
Tweetchat: Spread awareness, stop resistance – the role of pharmacists Join our tweetchat on the 17th of November 2021 #CPApharm Tweetchat To celebrate World Antimicrobial

News: Successful outcome for antimicrobial stewardship capacity building meetings in Uganda
Successful outcome for antimicrobial stewardship capacity building meetings in Uganda Feedback after a successful CwPAMS and SPARC meeting Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) refers to a coordinated

News: The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association roll out the pioneering new ‘SPARC’ programme to help combat antimicrobial resistance
The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association roll out the pioneering new ‘SPARC’ programme to help combat antimicrobial resistance Press Release For more information contact: sparc@commonwealthpharmacy.org The Commonwealth Pharmacists

News: Call for expressions of interest – Project Support Officer
Call for expressions of interest – Project Support Officer About The Role The Commonwealth Pharmacy Association (CPA) is a small but rapidly growing global health

News: CPA & THET Win Antibiotic Guardian Award for CwPAMS
CPA & THET Win Antibiotic Guardian Award for CwPAMS Antibiotic Guardian Awards 2020 On Thursday 26 November 2020, the fifth Antibiotic Guardian award was held

Blog: History-Making As Malaysian Pharmacists Can Now Administer Covid-19 Vaccination 
Pharmacists in Malaysia were successfully included as Covid-19 vaccinators to help ramp up the inoculation rate in Malaysia from February 2022 onwards.

Commonwealth Day 2022 — Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming
The CPA is building a shared future across the Commonwealth by delivering a wide range of programs. These programmes align with its core strategic goals to address issues around the access, use and quality of medicines.

Blog: A Day In The Life Of An HIV Pharmacist
Opinion Piece: Akwasi Mintah A Day In The Life Of An HIV Pharmacist I find myself challenged and intrigued by my work as an HIV pharmacist.

Blog: Tackling antibiotic resistance in primary care
Opinion Piece: Dr Sanjay Sarin and Dr Cecilia Ferreyra (FIND) Tackling antibiotic resistance in primary healthcare Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health emergency that