Gender justice essential to prevent drug-resistant infections: Global experts

By A Representative 

As the 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women moves towards its conclusion on 19 March 2026, public health experts and advocates have stressed that advancing gender equality and human rights is essential to tackling the growing global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) and its partners have called for stronger commitments from governments to ensure gender-responsive policies that uphold the right to health and help prevent drug-resistant infections.

Antimicrobial resistance refers to the ability of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to evolve and become resistant to medicines designed to kill them, making common infections harder or sometimes impossible to treat. The problem is largely driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines in human healthcare, livestock production, agriculture and the environment, leading to infections that no longer respond to standard treatments.

The Global AMR Media Alliance is an international network of journalists, editors, researchers and public health advocates that works to strengthen accurate reporting, public awareness and policy dialogue on antimicrobial resistance and related health issues.

Experts in an online discussion organised by GAMA noted that AMR has complex social determinants, including gender inequality. According to Shobha Shukla, chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, social and cultural norms that marginalise women and girls often increase their vulnerability to infections and limit access to timely healthcare. She warned that without addressing gender-based inequalities and systemic injustices, progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals will remain difficult.

Public health leaders have emphasised that gender-based violence is also closely linked with the spread and treatment challenges of drug-resistant infections. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization, said violence against women—whether physical or sexual—can lead to untreated or poorly treated infections, including sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections. Such situations can result in incomplete antibiotic treatment or improper medication use, increasing the risk of drug resistance. Women facing unsafe abortions or barriers to healthcare may also face greater exposure to drug-resistant infections.

Stigma surrounding diseases such as Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS further compounds the problem. Bhakti Chavan, a survivor of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and member of a WHO task force of AMR survivors, said women often hide their illness because of fear of social judgment. This can lead to delayed testing, irregular treatment and early discontinuation of medication, all of which increase the risk of drug resistance.

Researchers say power imbalances within families and healthcare systems also shape treatment outcomes. Esmita Charani of the University of Cape Town said women frequently have less authority to make decisions about their own healthcare, and their medical needs are often prioritised after those of male family members. Women commonly serve as caregivers in hospitals and homes but may not seek care for themselves, particularly where healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket.

Social norms related to menstruation, caregiving responsibilities, financial control and access to education also influence women’s exposure to infection and treatment pathways. Deepshikha Bhateja of the Indian School of Business said these norms often reduce women’s access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and limit their ability to obtain accurate diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics.

Experts have therefore called for an intersectional approach that considers how gender intersects with factors such as caste, religion, migration status and economic position. Salman Khan, a youth engagement consultant with ReAct Asia Pacific, described AMR as a deeply social challenge shaped by inequalities in power, resources and decision-making.

Advocates have also highlighted the leadership role women can play in preventing irrational antibiotic use. Mayssam Akroush of the Pan Arab Women Physicians Association said women often serve simultaneously as caregivers, educators, health professionals and household decision-makers, placing them in a strong position to influence responsible antibiotic use within families and communities.

Participants also stressed the urgency of addressing drug-resistant tuberculosis if the global goal of ending TB by 2030 is to be achieved. Shobha Shukla noted that despite decades of scientific advances, the global number of drug-resistant TB cases has remained high, largely because of misuse, overuse or incomplete use of TB medicines.

Advocates have called for national AMR action plans to include gender-sensitive indicators and address issues such as gender-based violence, which can influence patterns of antibiotic exposure. They also pointed to guidance released by the World Health Organization in 2024 encouraging countries to integrate gender-responsive strategies into policies addressing drug-resistant infections.

With global observances such as World Water Day and World TB Day approaching, campaigners say addressing gender inequality and strengthening access to healthcare, sanitation and responsible medicine use are essential steps toward achieving “health for all” and preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.