Why Antibiotics Remain Essential Medicines

Modern Healthcare Cannot Function Without Antibiotics

Antibiotics have transformed medicine and continue to save millions of lives every year. They are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections and help prevent complications in medical procedures where infections can pose serious risks.

Their importance extends far beyond treating routine illnesses. Effective antimicrobials are essential for procedures such as major surgery, organ transplantation, and cancer treatment. Without them, many forms of modern medicine would become significantly more challenging and riskier.

Yet the value of antibiotics is often taken for granted. When available, they quietly support healthcare systems. When access is disrupted, the consequences quickly become visible.

Rising Demand in a Changing Healthcare Landscape

Healthcare systems worldwide are facing growing pressure. Populations are aging, chronic diseases are becoming more prevalent, and access to healthcare is expanding in many regions.

These trends increase the need for effective anti-infective treatments. Hospitals require reliable access to antibiotics not only for emergency situations, but also for the growing number of planned medical procedures that depend on infection prevention and treatment.

At the same time, global healthcare leaders are working to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which the WHO identifies as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity. AMR occurs when microorganisms become resistant to medicines designed to treat them, making infections harder to cure and increasing the risk of severe illness and death.

The scale of the challenge is significant. A 2022 study published in The Lancet estimated that antimicrobial resistance was associated with approximately 4.95 million deaths globally in 2019, including 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Addressing this challenge requires a balanced approach: preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics while ensuring patients continue to have access to the medicines they need.

What Happens When Antibiotics Are in Short Supply?

Reliable access to antibiotics cannot be assumed. In recent years, medicine shortages have emerged as a growing concern in many healthcare systems. Antibiotic shortages can disrupt patient care, place additional pressure on healthcare professionals, and complicate treatment decisions.

According to the WHO, shortages of quality-assured antibiotics represent a significant challenge for health systems worldwide. Such shortages can lead to treatment delays, the use of less suitable alternatives, prolonged infections, and increased pressure on antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

For healthcare professionals, shortages create difficult decisions. For patients, they can mean uncertainty, delayed treatment, or additional complications during already stressful situations.

Future-ready healthcare systems therefore require not only innovation, but also resilience. Ensuring that essential medicines remain available when and where they are needed is a critical component of healthcare preparedness.

Why Reliable Supply Matters to Patients

For patients, access to antibiotics is not an abstract healthcare issue. When someone develops a serious bacterial infection, undergoes surgery, receives cancer treatment, or requires intensive care, timely access to effective antibiotics can be crucial. Behind every dose is a patient relying on a healthcare system to deliver the right treatment at the right moment.

That is why dependable supply chains, high manufacturing standards, and long-term investment in essential medicines matter. They help strengthen healthcare systems and support better outcomes for patients.

Our contribution

As a global healthcare company, Fresenius Kabi, part of Fresenius, contributes to the availability of essential medicines, including antibiotics, helping healthcare providers deliver care when it matters most. Importantly, Fresenius Kabi also manufactures most of its antibiotics in Europe, supporting supply resilience and helping ensure that patients and healthcare systems have access to these critical medicines when they are needed. As a responsible manufacturer, Fresenius Kabi contributes to maintaining access to these established yet indispensable treatments is an important part of supporting resilient healthcare systems today and in the future. It reflects a simple principle: acting today with tomorrow’s healthcare needs in mind, and contributing to #FutureFresenius by helping secure access to essential medicines.