CAMO-Net Pakistan recently hosted a symposium to highlight their work in addressing antimicrobial resistance AMR ahead of this year’s World AMR Awareness Week at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
The symposium brought together healthcare practitioners, microbiologists, and infectious disease experts to share experiences and explore strategies to address the growing global threat of AMR. Titled “Preserving Antimicrobials: Educate, Advocate, Act Against AMR”, the event gave particular attention to the challenges faced in low-resource settings.
CAMO-Net Pakistan, led by Dr Izhar Hussain, is based at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), a major public sector health sciences university in Karachi that offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, nursing and allied health sciences. DUHS also operates affiliated hospitals, diagnostic centres and research facilities, with a strong focus on education, innovation and community service.
The event opened with video messages from Dr Raheelah Ahmad, Knowledge Mobilisation Lead for CAMO-Net, and Professor Alison Holmes, CAMO-Net Lead and David Price Evans Chair of Infectious Disease at the University of Liverpool. Both acknowledged the efforts of Dr Izhar and the DUHS team in advancing AMS in Pakistan. Dr Izhar then welcomed participants and guest speakers, followed by an address from Professor Mohammad Saeed Quraishy (Former Vice-Chancellor, DUHS), who highlighted the important role of CAMO-Net in supporting AMR-focused initiatives.
Discussions throughout the day covered a range of themes, including the application of artificial intelligence in AMR research, approaches to building laboratory capacity for AMR surveillance in low-resource settings, and regulatory measures to preserve antimicrobial efficacy. Dr Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, CEO of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), delivered the keynote address, outlining the Commission’s work to regulate antimicrobial use across Sindh Province. He also announced forthcoming joint training programmes with DUHS, which will form part of Continuing Medical Education activities.
A panel discussion on ‘AMR and AMS in Practice: Successes, Challenges, and the Role of the Antibiogram’ enabled participants to share practical insights from clinical, laboratory and policy perspectives. Panellists discussed how AMS principles are being implemented across hospitals and laboratories, the value of antibiograms in guiding empirical treatment, and the barriers to wider adoption of AMS practices. The exchange highlighted the importance of collaboration between clinicians, microbiologists, and health authorities to ensure the effective and sustainable use of antimicrobials.
Dr Izhar Hussain said, “The symposium has reinforced the importance of practical, context-specific action to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials. It also underlined how partnerships – such as those fostered through CAMO-Net – can help translate research and policy into real improvements in patient care.”
The symposium concluded with reflections on how partnerships between academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and healthcare providers can strengthen national responses to AMR. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, the event contributed to a growing body of work within CAMO-Net aimed at improving antimicrobial use, enhancing surveillance systems, and supporting evidence-based policy and practice in Pakistan and beyond.
