World Health Organisation (WHO) said that according to a recent forcast, the potential human and economic cost is estimated to be 10 million deaths per year globally and 2-3.5 per cent less global gross domestic product by 2050 if antimicrobial resistance goes unchecked.
"Immediate action is needed to stop the world from heading towards pre-antibiotic era in which all achievements made in prevention and control of communicable diseases will be reversed.
She said that without effective antimicrobial medicines, a number of common infections such as hospital acquired ventilator associated pneumonias, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, tuberculosis, malaria and others are already becoming harder to treat.
WHO's South-East Asia Region comprises of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
"Countries need to strengthen monitoring of the extent and cause of antibiotic resistance, improve infection control in hospitals and regulate and promote appropriate use of medicines," Singh said.
WHO said that increased awareness needs to be created among the general public as well as health workers and pharmacists on taking and selling only prescribed medicines and completing their full course.