The Efficacy of Pakistan's National Action Plan in Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) (i.e. when microbes and bacteria become resistant to antimicrobials such as antibiotics) remains a pressing global health concern, affecting countries worldwide, with particularly those in the global south. The challenges of AMR in Pakistan are not unique to the country but serve as an example of the AMR crisis faced by many nations in the global south, where healthcare, environmental, agricultural and governance factors interplay to aggravate the issue. In 2017, Pakistan, in accordance with the Global Action Plan (GAP) by the World Health Organization (WHO), launched the National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR to address the health issue.

This thesis assesses the effectiveness of Pakistan's NAP in addressing AMR, focusing on Pakistan's unique challenges and opportunities. The thesis relies on the policy effectiveness framework in the policy sciences, which distinguishes between the analytical, operational and political dimensions of a policy. Primary interviews with experts in the health, government and policy sectors are used to triangulate themes revolving around policy effectiveness, ongoing challenges, and recommendations. The thesis aims to understand the impact of NAP, investigate ongoing hurdles, understand the on-ground reality and challenges, and suggest potential improvements concerning Pakistan's NAP in addressing AMR. The thesis develops recommendations to enhance the efficacy of Pakistan's NAP, building upon the insights from the triangulation of the policy effectiveness framework, primary interviews, and literature on the topic.