Public Health Agency of Sweden in partnerships for global AMR containment
At the Public Health Agency of Sweden, we lead and collaborate in global, regional, and national efforts to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
As a WHO Collaborating Centre, we support countries in surveillance, stewardship, and access to medicines – through bilateral engagements and cooperation with global organisations. Through partnerships like EU-JAMRAI 2, NDPHS, and the Global Health Security Agenda, we foster data-driven initiatives and strengthened health systems, and promote a One Health approach to secure effective antibiotics for future generations.
WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Containment
The Collaborating Centre is a member of the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network, in support to the implementation of Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System, GLASS, in Member States. An important cornerstone is the collection and use of data of both antibiotic use and resistance for local and global action, and GLASS was launched by WHO in 2015 to promote “a standardized approach to the collection, analysis and sharing of AMR data at a global level” with the aim to inform strategies at all levels.
WHO AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network (who.int)
Ukraine
The Public Health Agency of Sweden collaborates with Ukrainian authorities and Swedish stakeholders to support the implementation of Ukraine’s national action plan against antibiotic resistance; improve laboratory surveillance by procuring materials needed to detect and limit the development of resistance; and strengthen preventive efforts in healthcare, including through training and improved infection prevention and control routines. The work obtains funding for the years 2025–2027 through the Program for Swedish support to Ukraine in the health sector coordinated by the National Board of Health and Welfare and funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
JAMRAI 2
EU Member States, authorities and experts are participating in the EU-JAMRAI 2 project (Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections) from 2024 to 2027. The project aims to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics; improve public health by reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance; and strengthen collaboration between countries, healthcare systems, and other sectors.
EU-JAMRAI 2 focuses on turning knowledge into action, which includes: monitoring antibiotic use and the spread of resistance; improving access to the right antibiotics when needed; developing methods to influence behaviours, such as how antibiotics are prescribed and used; and supporting countries in implementing their national action plans against antimicrobial resistance. A total of 30 countries and nearly 130 organizations across Europe are involved.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden co-leads the work on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use, as well as the efforts to improve access to existing antibiotics and veterinary vaccines.
Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being
The Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) is a cooperation platform of partner countries and international organisations, including the WHO and the European Commission, which operates on different levels, including activities such as high-level ministerial dialogues and an extensive network of experts. NDPHS is the coordinator of Policy Area Health within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
Sweden, represented by the Public Health Agency of Sweden, is lead country and chair of the Antimicrobial Resistance Expert Group (AMR-EG). The expert group is one of seven expert groups that make up a network coordinated by the NDPHS. The AMR-EG currently has active representatives from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. The experts in the group exchange information, ideas and experience and conduct implementation projects.
Antimicrobial Resistance (ndphs.org)
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (eusbsr.eu)
Global Health Security Agenda
Sweden is a member of the Global Health Security Agenda, an initiative for a multilateral and multi-sectoral approach to strengthen both the global capacity as well as countries’ capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. Nearly 50 nations, international organisations, and non-governmental stakeholders are involved. The Public Health Agency of Sweden is active in the work within the AMR Action Package.
EU AMR One Health Network
The EU AMR One Health Network was established in 2017 and is led by the European Commission. The network consists of national experts from the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, as well as relevant scientific bodies in the EU, stakeholders, and experts from the Commission. The network meetings primarily focus on information sharing, capacity building, and technical discussions.
Nordic One Health AMR Group under the Nordic Council of Ministers
The Nordic One Health AMR Expert Group, together with the Nordic One Health AMR Strategy Group, supports the joint Nordic work against antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of the Nordic One Health AMR Group’s work is to support the co-operation on AMR in the Nordic countries and share Nordic best practice on managing antimicrobial resistance to other countries. Also, to support the international coordination of AMR containment that takes place in the EU, WHO, FAO, WOAH and other relevant fora. This is done on the basis of a holistic, One Health approach that includes human and animal health, food and the environment. The work is done in accordance with the declaration: One Health – Strengthened Nordic Cooperation on Antimicrobial Resistance adopted in November 2024, by the Nordic ministers for health, food and agriculture.