Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region today
committed to stronger, more integrated action to close critical gaps in ending
tuberculosis (TB), with a focus on earlier diagnosis, better access to
prevention and treatment, stronger financial protection for families, and
preparedness for new TB vaccines.
“Tuberculosis is curable and preventable, yet it continues
to take hundreds of thousands of lives in our Region every year and pushes
families into poverty,” said Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge, WHO
South-East Asia Region, at the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional
Committee for South-East Asia.
“We have the tools to change this trajectory. What we need
is to ensure that these tools reach everyone who needs them – earlier,
equitably and as part of quality primary health care.”
The WHO South-East Asia Region is home to almost a quarter
of the world’s population but accounted for approximately 34% of new TB cases
globally in 2024 – an estimated 3.68 million cases – and around 433 000 deaths.
About 150 000 people developed multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB,
representing more than 38% of the global burden.
The challenge is particularly acute in Timor-Leste, where
the estimated TB incidence is 496 per 100 000 population and TB mortality is
estimated at 78 per 100 000 population, the highest in the Region. This
highlights the urgent need for early detection, prevention of transmission and
timely access to quality treatment.
At the Regional Committee, countries agreed to strengthen
early and complete detection of TB through routine services, systematic
screening and active case finding among high-risk and underserved populations,
alongside wider use of WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics, including molecular
diagnostics and digital technologies where appropriate.
Countries also committed to more people-centred TB care,
including better access to quality treatment for drug-resistant TB, nutritional
and community-based support, and action to address stigma, discrimination and
the social, financial and geographic barriers that prevent people from accessing
care.
Prevention efforts will include expanding TB preventive
treatment for eligible household contacts and others at risk, strengthening
infection prevention and control, and addressing major risk factors such as
undernutrition, diabetes and tobacco use.
Regional modelling indicates that the greatest reductions in
TB incidence and mortality could come from a combination of improved treatment
and public–private engagement, rapid diagnostics, targeted prevention, active
case finding among high-risk and underserved populations, and the introduction
of TB vaccines when available.
Introducing a TB vaccine from 2028 alongside these
interventions could avert around 1.45 million new TB cases and 300 000 deaths
by 2030, making preparedness for future vaccine introduction important.
The Region has made important progress since 2015. TB
treatment coverage now exceeds 85%, while treatment success rates are the
highest among WHO regions. TB incidence has fallen by 16%, compared with a
global decline of 12%, while TB deaths have declined by 23%.
However, progress remains insufficient to reach the End TB
Strategy targets of an 80% reduction in TB incidence and a 90% reduction in
deaths by 2030, compared with 2015.
TB also continues to impose a heavy financial burden on
families. Nearly 44% of TB-affected households face catastrophic costs, rising
to more than 80% among households affected by drug-resistant TB. Financing also
remains far below need. In 2024, approximately US$900 million was available for
the regional TB response, against an estimated requirement of around US$3
billion.
Recognizing that ending TB requires action beyond the health
sector, countries emphasized stronger integration of TB services within primary
health care and universal health coverage.
Timor-Leste is accelerating its national response through a
new End TB National Strategic Plan 2026–2030, expanded community-based active
case finding and contact tracing, stronger access to rapid molecular
diagnostics, and wider availability of TB preventive treatment.
Member States also agreed to strengthen regional
cooperation, including South–South collaboration, cross-border referral and
continuity of care for mobile and migrant populations. They emphasized greater
engagement of communities, civil society, people affected by TB and non-State
providers as partners in the TB response.
Countries also highlighted innovation and data-driven
implementation, including digital health, operational research, voluntary
technology transfer and stronger use of subnational data to target
interventions where they are most needed.
With TB financing still substantially below estimated need,
Member States called for stronger domestic resource mobilization, efficient use
of resources, pooled procurement and greater regional collaboration to improve
access to medicines, diagnostics and other essential commodities.
“Ending tuberculosis will require stronger regional
solidarity and action across health systems, community systems and beyond,”
said Dr Buddha.
