Pakistan Declared Among 5 High-Burden Countries for TB

Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “We urge nations to expand TB prevention, detection, and treatment tools to eliminate TB once and for all.”

While TB-related deaths saw a slight decrease from 1.32 million in 2022, the disease continues to spread rapidly in areas with high rates of undernutrition, diabetes, smoking, and HIV, with 56% of the global TB burden in 2023 concentrated in high-burden countries including Pakistan.

The rise in multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which resists standard treatments, further complicates efforts to eradicate the disease. Only 44% of MDR/RR-TB cases were diagnosed and treated in 2023, with a 68% treatment success rate, highlighting challenges in managing this form of TB.

Funding shortages continue to hinder TB control efforts. In 2023, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) needed $22 billion for effective TB management but secured only $5.7 billion, or 26% of this amount. WHO’s report also highlights that many TB-affected households incur costs exceeding 20% of their annual income for TB treatment.

Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme, called for urgent, cross-sector collaboration, stressing that “funding shortfalls, financial burdens, conflict, climate change, and drug resistance are stalling TB progress.”

The WHO’s focus on TB vaccine research reflects a pressing need, with only 20% of the $5 billion target for TB research achieved in 2022. The WHO’s TB Vaccine Accelerator Council is actively working to advance this effort.

The organization is also urging action on commitments made at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB, pushing governments and global partners to translate promises into effective TB strategies.

WHO Director-General Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to meet global TB reduction milestones, ensuring accessible care for those most affected.