Study shows antibiotic overuse is concentrated in high-income nations, while low-income countries struggle with shortages

Peter Beyer, deputy executive director of the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership, writes an opinion piece highlighting a shift in how antimicrobial resistance is framed across the globe.

He notes that low- and middle-income countries have long been blamed for excessive antibiotic use, often citing over‑the‑counter sales and weak regulation as drivers of drug‑resistant infections.

A new study published in Lancet Public Health challenges that view, finding that the largest volumes of antibiotics used to treat resistant infections are consumed in high‑income settings, while many lower‑income nations still lack adequate access despite representing over 80% of the estimated global need.

The author argues that the AMR challenge is less about cutting use everywhere and more about ensuring appropriate access in regions that are currently underserved.