New programme studies infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance

09.09.19 | News
Sygeplejerske med patient
Photographer
Yadid Levy / Norden.org
A new Nordic study programme was launched at the University of Gothenburg this week to better equip students to prevent infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance and to improve health in the Nordic Region.

“The programme is a good example of Nordic co-operation resulting in initiatives that contribute to national health programmes and ultimately benefit people all over the Nordic Region,” says the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Paula Lehtomäki. The Nordic Council of Ministers of Health and Social Affairs (MR-S) took the initiative that led to the programme and is helping to fund it.

Horrific scenarios must be prevented 

The need for intervention, including this study programme, is clear from the gloomy statistics, e.g. for anti-resistance. At global level, 700,000 people die because of their resistance to antibiotics, according to The Review on Antibiotic Resistance. If the trend continues, that figure will rise to 10 million in 2050.  

The programme is a good example of Nordic co-operation resulting in initiatives that contribute to national health programmes and ultimately benefit people all over the Nordic Region

Paula Lehtomäki, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers

It’s time to get started

The two-year, part-time study programme corresponds to a year of full-time study (60 ECTS) and a Swedish Master’s programme. The first 20 Nordic students have just arrived for the course, which is being run by the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the public health institutes in the Nordic countries. Professor Agnes Wold, the head of programme says: 

“We hope that the programme will live up to our ambition of improving the qualifications of health care professionals working with infectious diseases and hygiene. It’s time to get started.  
 

We hope that the programme will live up to our ambition of improving the qualifications of health care professionals working with infectious diseases and hygiene. It’s time to get started.  

Professor Agnes Wold, University of Gothenburg