Antibiotic misuse is the most important factor fueling AMR. The WHO report on antibiotic use shows that overall antibiotic use in the Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions was the highest of all WHO regions.

Antibiotic use was 23.0 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The highest relative enrolment of countries in WHO GLASS antimicrobial use surveillance in 2023 was in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with 95.5% of CTAs enrolled (21/22)

However only 9 countries out of these 21 enrolled submitted data for 2023.

In 2023, the global target was to have at least 60% of national antibiotic consumption coming from the “Access” group antibiotics—which are the first line antibiotics with low potential for resistance and indicated for common infections.

Globally, 58% (35/60) of CTAs reported meeting the WHO 2023 target

Only 4 countries out of the 9 countries which submitted data for 2023 from the Eastern Mediterranean region achieved the target.

Moreover, only 1 country—Tunisia—has achieved the 2030 target (70% Access) set by the UN General Assembly in 2024.