The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) yesterday announced the release of a new strategy on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The strategy was launched during a summit organised by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and FIND, titled AMR [antimicrobial resistance] + Africa + Diagnostics. It is the first meeting of its kind to put diagnostics at the centre of the critical issue of AMR, according to a press release.

According to a FIND press release, FIND also announced four new collaboration agreements starting in 2018 to address AMR and other diagnostic challenges in resource-poor settings.

The four new collaborations are with “BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); Fondation Botnar; the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), a joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi); and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).”

“FIND, in collaboration with partners, will tackle the main barriers in implementation of diagnostic solutions for AMR by facilitating creation of ‘fit-for-purpose’ diagnostic tests, collecting evidence to inform policy development, and accelerating equitable access to diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries,” the release said.