From
Björn Finke, Brussels
The World Health Organization (WHO) is already talking about a “silent pandemic”: Common antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective against bacterial infections. The pathogens are resistant to the drugs – also a consequence of careless use in humans and animals. The EU disease control agency ECDC estimatesthat in Europe 33 000 patients die from such bacteria every year, as many as from influenza, tuberculosis and HIV combined. The EU Commission now wants to give pharmaceutical companies stronger financial incentives to develop new antibiotics. They should be used when the tried-and-tested means are no longer effective. However, consumer advocates and some EU governments are dissatisfied with the way in which the Brussels authorities intend to give companies more money. These critics fear that the costs will be too high.