The emerging and steady increase of microbes that are resistant to antimicrobials has become a global public health concern that threatens the effective treatment of infectious diseases.

PGEU President Duarte Santos stated: “Despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis we cannot afford to lower our guard in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). If this crisis has taught us one thing, it is that having access to adequate prevention, screening and treatment options for infectious diseases is one of the most important assets for our societies.

Community pharmacists are ready to enhance their contribution to keep antibiotics working and to help strengthening Europe’s health systems in their response to AMR. They already play pivotal roles in counselling patients and promoting antimicrobial stewardship[1]. They provide preventative action, screening, referral, disposal, treatment in the pharmacy and constantly strive for quality improvements and innovation in pharmacy practice.

On the occasion of the annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, we want to offer policy makers with tangible solutions and examples of how they can make better use of community pharmacy teams working at the heart of communities to help in tackling AMR.”

To maximise the contribution that community pharmacists are making in tackling AMR and encouraging the prudent use of antimicrobials, PGEU calls upon the EU Institutions and the Member States to:

1. Structurally involve and support community pharmacists in AMR Action Plans developed at a European, national, regional and local level;


2. Ensure adequate support for patients to help combatting AMR in primary care by expanding and rewarding community pharmacy services aiming at integrated infection prevention and health promotion, responsible common ailment management, timely point-of-care testing and referral as well as rational prescribing, use and disposal of antibiotics.


3. Support increased collaboration and communication between community pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, regulators, industry, patients and the public on combatting AMR, including on improving access to vaccination.


4. Guarantee the security of supply for existing antimicrobials and construct new business models which could stimulate the development of new antibiotics;


5. Combat extra-EU online sales of antimicrobials by encouraging the use of “bricks and mortar” pharmacies and better promotion of the EU common logo for online pharmacies.

[1] Coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen including dosing, duration of therapy and route of administration