All 193 member states of the United Nations ( UN ) have agreed to sign a declaration pledging to combat antibiotic resistance , which kills at least 700,000 people each year . The issue is only the fourth international emergency to prompt a meeting of the general assembly , the others being Ebola , HIV / Aids and non - communicable diseases . Signatories will aim to encourage use of antibiotics , raise public awareness , and improve awareness and surveillance of the use of the drugs for humans and animals . Groups including UN agencies will report on progress on the issue to the UN secretary general in five years ’ duration .
All 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) have agreed to sign a declaration pledging to combat antibiotic resistance, which kills at least 700,000 people each year. The issue is only the fourth health emergency to prompt a meeting of the general assembly, the others being Ebola, HIV/Aids and non-communicable diseases. Signatories will agree to encourage development of antibiotics, raise public awareness, and improve regulation and surveillance of the use of the drugs for humans and animals. Groups including UN agencies will report on progress on the issue to the UN secretary general in two years’ time.