Taiwan’s efforts to confront antimicrobial resistance (AMR) entered a new chapter as the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) and Pfizer formalized a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen collaboration across research, surveillance, and public education. The agreement, signed by Taiwan CDC Director-General Yi-Chun Lo and Pfizer Taiwan Country Manager Cellina Yeh, reflects the growing urgency of the challenge as resistance rates continue to increase in Taiwan and globally. With AMR posing a serious public health threat, cross-sector action is essential to curb the spread and mitigate its impact.

The signing ceremony took place amid Taiwan’s acceleration of its national “One Health” strategy. This year, Taiwan’s first One Health AMR National Action Plan was initiated through coordinated efforts across multiple ministries, and AMR has been designated as a core action track under the One Health Joint Plan of Action. Together, these initiatives are supported by an estimated US$20 million in cross-sector funding from the health, agriculture, and environmental agencies to curb AMR. 

“AMR is now one of the six action tracks in our national One Health strategy,” said Lo, noting that public awareness of the issue remains limited.

The scale of the threat was further underscored by Wan-Chin Chen, Division Director of Infection Control and Biosafety under Taiwan CDC, who cited recent WHO findings indicating that one in six bacterial infections worldwide is resistant to major antibiotic treatments. Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance increased in more than 40% of pathogen-drug combinations monitored with average annual increases of 5%-15%. She emphasized that AMR is “not only a future challenge, but a present threat.”

For Chen, the new MOU represents a practical mechanism that integrates public sector leadership with private sector capabilities. The partnership aims to strengthen the scientific evidence base for AMR management, while enhancing clinical and public education on responsible antibiotic use through joint forums and academic exchanges. “This MOU marks the foundation of the partnership, not the finish line,” she said.

Beyond the domestic landscape, the agreement positions Taiwan within a broader global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance. The WHO has identified AMR as one of the world’s top 10 public health threats, and clinical data from Taiwan also reflect its mounting impact. An estimated 37,000 people died from sepsis in Taiwan in 2019, with roughly 80% of the cases linked to bacterial infections. Studies suggest that 5,000 to 18,000 of these deaths may have involved antimicrobial-resistant strains.

For Pfizer, the agreement builds on decades of collaboration with Taiwan’s public health system. The company’s commitment to combating infectious diseases dates back to its founding in 1849, and its early growth was closely tied to antibiotic research and production.

At the ceremony, Sinan Atlig, Pfizer’s Emerging Market Chief Commercial Officer and LATAM Cluster President, reflected on that history, noting that stewardship has become as important as product development. He highlighted Pfizer’s AMS strategy, which focuses on three pillars: ensuring appropriate treatment at the right time, advancing prevention through vaccines, and strengthening data-driven decision-making through systems such as Pfizer’s ATLAS, one of the largest AMR surveillance databases in the world.

Atlig also pointed to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, praising Taiwan CDC for its communication efforts and the high level of public trust it maintained throughout the crisis. He reiterated that public-private collaboration proved essential during the pandemic and continues to be fundamental in addressing AMR, a challenge where microbes evolve faster than global health systems can respond. “Only through combined efforts in treatment, prevention, and data can we stay ahead,” he noted.

The signing of the MOU also reflects Pfizer’s commitment to supporting Taiwan’s health authorities. Country Manager Yeh described the partnership as the continuation of Pfizer’s 62 years of engagement in Taiwan, grounded in science, data sharing, and public awareness. She noted that the company continues to invest in new medicines, antibiotics, and educational initiatives while collaborating with medical community and policymakers to support evidence-based decision-making. “Fighting AMR is a shared responsibility,” she said.

Pierre Niles, Pfizer’s Emerging Markets Marketing Group Lead, highlighted prevention as a core pillar of the AMR strategy. He expressed confidence that expanded cooperation with Taiwan CDC would strengthen public health, particularly through the integration of preventive tools and early intervention.

The MOU outlines three principal areas of cooperation: antimicrobial resistance data sharing with academic and medical institutions, expanded cross-sector exchange through regional and global forums, and joint educational initiatives to promote responsible antibiotic use.

As Taiwan’s One Health strategy moves into implementation, both government and industry leaders agree that tackling AMR demands sustained and coordinated action. For Taiwan CDC and Pfizer, the new partnership represents a shared strategic commitment to strengthening surveillance, research, and public education. Its success, they noted, will not be measured by the signing ceremony itself, but by the practical impact delivered in the years ahead.