What's Happening?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, highlighting that tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious killer, with over 1.2 million deaths and 10.7 million cases last year. Despite progress in diagnosis
and treatment, funding challenges and inequitable access to care threaten to reverse these gains. The report notes a decline in TB incidence and deaths, with significant progress in regions like Africa and Europe. However, the disease remains concentrated in 30 high-burden countries, with India, Indonesia, and the Philippines among the most affected. Advances in TB diagnosis and treatment have been made, but funding for TB prevention and research is insufficient, posing a risk to future progress.
Why It's Important?
The ongoing challenges in TB funding and access to care have significant implications for global health. TB is preventable and curable, yet it continues to claim millions of lives, highlighting the need for sustained political commitment and investment. The stagnation in funding since 2020 and potential cuts to international donor funding could lead to millions more cases and deaths. This situation underscores the importance of global solidarity and increased domestic investment to meet the WHO's End TB Strategy targets. The report also emphasizes the need for multisectoral action to address the social determinants and risk factors driving the TB epidemic.
What's Next?
The WHO calls for increased political commitment and investment to accelerate progress towards ending TB by 2030. The organization stresses the importance of sustained funding and research to develop new diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines. Countries with high TB burdens are urged to strengthen their health systems and improve access to care. The WHO also highlights the need for coordinated efforts to address the social and structural determinants of TB, such as poverty and undernutrition. The global community must work together to overcome these challenges and achieve the goal of ending TB as a public health threat.
