How Universal Health Coverage can curb the escalating antimicrobial resistance in Pakistan: a call to action for the country's healthcare system

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major threat to the global healthcare economy during Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in developing countries like Pakistan where the healthcare facilities are already substandard. To combat AMR, the World Health Organization (WHO) has taken several initiatives including the establishment of a sustainable Universal Health Coverage (UHC) system. The implementation of UHC could eliminate various factors that contribute to a high AMR rate including self-medication. Our commentary explores in depth the current UHC system in Pakistan and how UHC could be the answer to Pakistan’s AMR crisis.