The Jack Watters debate – tackling antimicrobial resistance in an ageing society, took place on the 16th November 2016 at the Old Operating Theatre Museum in London.

This event was dedicated to a long term supporter of the ILC and a pioneer in championing the health and well-being of ageing people, Dr. Jack Watters.

The debate was chaired by Baroness Sally Greengross (Chief Executive, ILC-UK) and saw the participation of the following speakers:

• Professor David Salisbury CB, Associate Fellow, Centre on Global Health Security Chatham House
• Matthew Edwards, Head of Mortality and Longevity, Towers Watson
• Michelle Bresnahan, Founder, A Life for a Cure
• Dr Gina Radford, Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Jack Watters served as Pfizer US Vice President for External Medical Affairs. In a pharmaceutical career spanning more than thirty years, Jack pioneered the landmark Diflucan Partnership Programme; spearheaded the ‘Get Old’ campaign to promote positive attitudes and approaches to ageing, and worked tirelessly in the fields of human rights, HIV/AIDS and ageing.

To celebrate Jack’s life and contribution to public health advancements around the world, the ILC-UK organised this special debate on one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: the threat posed to medicine by the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Fittingly held in the oldest operating theatre in Europe, the debate focused on what must be done to prevent (in the words of Lord O’Neill, Chair of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance) medicine being plunged ‘back into the dark ages’.

Senior policymakers and patient group representatives discussed the UK, and global challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance; the specific risk posed to healthy longevity; the role of vaccination in reducing antibiotic usage; and what Government and civil society can do to meet these challenges.

The presentation slides from the event.

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