A newly released 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark has raised alarm over the growing threat of drug-resistant infections, warning that sub-Saharan Africa remains dangerously underserved as pharmaceutical innovation slows.
The report by the Access to Medicine Foundation paints a troubling picture: across 17 countries in the region, none of the surveyed pharmaceutical firms have registered child-friendly versions of their antimicrobial medicines. This gap is limiting treatment options for children and worsening the spread of resistant infections.
The impact is particularly severe given that a large majority of global childhood tuberculosis deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Without suitable medicines, many treatable infections are becoming increasingly deadly.
Globally, antimicrobial resistance is linked to more than four million deaths each year. Yet investment in new treatments is declining. Since 2021, the number of antimicrobial projects under development by major pharmaceutical companies has dropped by 35%. Industry giants such as Johnson & Johnson have exited vaccine and infectious disease research altogether, leaving only a few large players—like GSK, Otsuka, and Shionogi—actively investing in new antimicrobial solutions.
Children remain the most neglected group, with just 14% of ongoing antimicrobial research projects targeting those under five years old.
However, the report also highlights some progress. Smaller pharmaceutical firms and mid-sized innovators are driving much of the remaining research momentum. Seven late-stage drug projects targeting highly resistant infections have been identified, offering a glimmer of hope, especially for low- and middle-income countries.
According to Jayasree K. Iyer, coordinated global action could still reverse the trend if stakeholders act decisively.
Encouragingly, some companies are making efforts to close the access gap. Firms such as Aurobindo Pharma, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries are registering paediatric medicines in a growing number of developing countries. In addition, generic drug manufacturers are increasingly tracking how their medicines are used, a key step in curbing misuse and slowing resistance.
Still, experts warn that isolated efforts are not enough. Claudia Martínez emphasized the need for a coordinated, industry-wide response spanning research, manufacturing, and equitable access.
Uganda’s Growing Burden
The global crisis mirrors an increasingly serious situation in Uganda, where antimicrobial resistance is already claiming thousands of lives.
Data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that in 2021 alone, over 5,600 deaths in Uganda were directly caused by drug-resistant infections, while nearly 27,000 deaths were linked to the condition. The figures now exceed the country’s annual deaths from HIV and tuberculosis combined.
Young children are the hardest hit. More than 12,000 deaths among children under five were associated with AMR in 2021, highlighting the vulnerability of this age group.
In regions like Karamoja, studies have found widespread exposure to resistant bacteria, with nearly half of food and water consumed by young children contaminated with drug-resistant strains of Salmonella.
Meanwhile, resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillin is rising sharply. Health authorities report that up to 50% of bacterial infections in Uganda no longer respond to standard treatments. Dangerous pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli are now among the leading causes of fatal infections.
The findings underline an urgent need for stronger investment, better regulation of antibiotic use, and expanded access to effective treatments—before drug-resistant infections become even more difficult to control.
