The Potential Socio-economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in Canada

Principle Investigator (BCU): Erez Yerushalmi

Project Duration: July 2018 – May 2019

(Partners) RAND Corporation:  Marco Hafner and Jirka Taylor

Funder: Council of Canadian Academies (CCA)

Research objectives

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a rising global health threat.

Patients who are affected by drug-resistant pathogens are at risk of increased infections, longer hospitals stays, and even death. Even common infections become less treatable with available drugs. However, despite the rising risk of AMR, only a few new antimicrobial agents are being developed.

The aim of this research is to assess the economic cost of rising antimicrobial resistant organisms on the Canadian economy and its healthcare system.

Method

Birmingham City University (BCU) teamed-up with RAND Corporation. We are developing a dynamic, multi-country, computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that focuses on the Canadian economy. The model will simulate various AMR scenarios that alter the effective-labour supply, trade patterns, production, and other mechanism in the economy.

Lead by CCA, a panel of experts is guiding this research. Experts come from the healthcare and health economics fields. The panel is chaired by Dr. B. Brett Finlay, O.C., O.B.C., FRSC, FCAHS, Peter Wall Distinguished Professor at the University of British Columbia. For a complete list of panel members (see Expert Panel page).

Funder

This project is funded by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Read more here.

Other relevant Links:

Our previous research on AMR UK: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR911.html