The medicines losing their magic: Bangladesh’s race against time

A hidden crisis is quietly claiming lives across the world. Medicines that once cured common infections are losing their power, turning routine illnesses into serious threats. In 2019 alone, around 1.27 million deaths worldwide were directly linked to this growing problem, and experts warn the toll could rise sharply if action is delayed. Bangladesh, like many countries, faces a particularly heavy burden. In 2021, an estimated 23,500 deaths in the country were directly linked to this challenge, while nearly 97,000 more deaths were associated with it.

The issue extends far beyond hospitals. It affects farms, food production, waterways, businesses and communities. Because germs and diseases do not respect borders, a problem in one country can quickly become a concern for many others. Recognising this, Bangladesh has spent the past several years strengthening its ability to monitor and respond to the threat through support from the Fleming Fund Country Grant to Bangladesh.

One of the programme’s most significant achievements was bringing together information that had previously been scattered across different sectors. By 2025, a national digital platform was collecting routine information from 42 laboratories and had compiled more than 200,000 records. This gave decision-makers a clearer picture of emerging trends and helped guide action more quickly and effectively.

The initiative also focused on improving confidence in laboratory findings. Better training, common standards and stronger quality checks helped ensure that information collected across the country could be trusted and compared. At the same time, animal health services were strengthened, encouraging more informed use of medicines in livestock and poultry and helping farmers make better decisions.

Environmental monitoring became another key pillar. Wastewater, rivers and markets were brought into the national monitoring system, allowing authorities to spot warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed. This broader approach acknowledged that human, animal and environmental health are closely connected.

Hospitals also received support to encourage more careful use of medicines. Thousands of health professionals participated in workshops, laboratories were upgraded, and communication between clinicians and laboratory teams improved. As a result, information is increasingly being used to guide real-world decisions rather than simply being collected and stored.

While challenges remain, Bangladesh now has stronger systems, better coordination and a clearer national strategy. Its experience shows that tackling this global threat requires more than equipment and funding. It demands cooperation, long-term commitment and the ability to turn information into action. In the fight against drug resistance, Bangladesh is demonstrating that meaningful progress is possible when institutions work together towards a common goal.