Henry Schein calls for action on antibiotic resistance

Henry Schein has issued a global call to action to combat the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance.

Speaking in an address to the World Economic Forum, the dental and healthcare company's chairman and chief executive officer Stanley Bergman highlighted the importance of public/private partnerships to tackle the problem.

Healthcare providers and industry stakeholders will need to do more to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics and support research into new products, as well as endorsing vaccines as an antibiotic resistance prevention tool.

Mr Bergman cautioned that a failure to do so could lead a future without effective antibiotics, with all of the damaging health problems, supply chain breakdowns and business impacts this would bring with it.

"Clearly, all sectors, including governments, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs, academia and the private sector, have an essential role to play. This is a job for all of us and it must begin now," he added.

According to the company's most recent fiscal breakdown in November 2011, Henry Schein saw a record-breaking performance in the first nine months of last year.