The United Nations has only convened General Assembly meetings on global health issues four times, the last of which was this year. But instead of focusing on a particular disease like Ebola, HIV, or diabetes as has been the case before, the UN is hoping to address a much broader issue.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a phenomenon where particular diseases grow resistant to traditional antibiotic medication, and previously curable diseases become untreatable. The RAND Corporation predicts that 11 to 14 million could die by 2050 if the current rate of AMR stays consistent, and predicts a loss of 444 million lives if it continues to accelerate. 

Elta Smith is a research leader at RAND Europe where she specializes in corporate governance, environmental sustainability, food supply, public health, and innovation policy. She joins us to talk about AMR and the conversation about global health at the UN.