Gibraltar is hosting colleagues from across the UK Overseas Territories this week for a UK Overseas Territories Antimicrobial Resistance Course, arranged with the support of the UK Health Security Agency.

The course brings together public health leaders, clinicians and policy officials from across the UK Overseas Territories to strengthen collaboration on tackling antimicrobial resistance, one of the most serious and growing global public health threats. The programme focuses on surveillance, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship and shared learning across small health systems.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms evolve to resist the medicines used to treat infections, making common illnesses harder to treat and increasing the risk of severe disease, complications and death. International collaboration and coordinated action are central to slowing the spread of resistance and protecting the effectiveness of existing treatments.

Gibraltar’s hosting of the course builds on long-standing work led by the Gibraltar Health Authority and the Director of Public Health, in particular, including the implementation of Gibraltar’s Antimicrobial Strategy and close engagement with UK and international partners. The event also reflected Gibraltar’s active role within the UK Overseas Territories public health network.

Delegates attending the course include representatives from multiple UK Overseas Territories, alongside UK public health experts, enabling the exchange of practical experience and approaches tailored to small and interconnected populations.

Consultant Medical Microbiologist, Nick Cortes, said: "Antimicrobial resistance is a slow burning global pandemic which is already causing real adverse impact on health across the world; Gibraltar is not immune to this. Monitoring and surveillance of local antimicrobial resistance is a key intervention in antimicrobial stewardship to support locally tailored and judicious antibiotic prescribing to optimise outcomes in healthcare."

The Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a complex and escalating global health threat that requires sustained, coordinated action across borders. Hosting colleagues from across the UK Overseas Territories in Gibraltar has been an important opportunity to share expertise, strengthen professional networks and learn from one another’s experiences in protecting patients and communities. This course builds on many years of work locally and reinforces our commitment to responsible antimicrobial use, strong infection prevention and effective surveillance.”