The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday emphasized the urgent need to scale up research, innovation, and collaboration in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) across South-East Asia—a region bearing nearly half of the global TB burden.
A Region Under Strain
According to the WHO, nearly 5 million people in the South-East Asia region developed TB in 2023, and close to 600,000 died from the disease, reaffirming TB’s status as the world’s leading killer from a single infectious agent—particularly post-COVID-19.
“In our region alone, nearly 5 million people developed TB and close to 600,000 died from the disease in 2023,” said Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia. She called for urgent, collective action to achieve the End TB Strategy targets, which aim for a 90% reduction in TB deaths and 80% drop in new cases by 2030 (compared to 2015 levels).
Progress Is Real—But Not Enough
While there has been a significant recovery in TB case notifications since the COVID-19 setback, progress remains insufficient. The region saw a drop in missed TB cases to 22% in 2023—a major improvement from 44% in 2020. Additionally, the treatment success rate reached 89% for patients who began therapy in 2022.
The WHO praised several innovative tools being used in the region:
- Artificial intelligence for case detection
- Computer-aided diagnostics
- Digital adherence tools
- Direct benefit transfers to provide patients with financial support
Despite these gains, TB continues to disproportionately impact the poorest and most vulnerable, with 30% to 80% of TB-affected households in the region facing catastrophic costs—highlighting the need for people-centred care and stronger social protection mechanisms.
Innovation and Research Landscape
The virtual three-day workshop, organized by WHO, brought together TB programme managers, researchers, civil society members, and health partners to address ongoing challenges.
Dr. Boehme warned that progress remains uneven, with research and innovation capacities varying across countries. She added, “The results of these efforts are often siloed and unavailable for collaborative use. The rise in drug-resistant TB is also very concerning.”
However, many country-level innovations are worth noting:
- India’s RATIONS study highlighted the role of nutrition in improving TB outcomes, contributing to global guidance.
- Bangladesh completed a patient cost survey to inform policy.
- Nepal’s TB-Free Pallika initiative and Myanmar’s multisectoral coordination are enhancing outreach and care to vulnerable populations.
WHO noted that more than 3,000 TB-related research articles have been published by South-East Asia member states in the last six years—60% of which are original studies. However, limited knowledge exchange platforms and uneven uptake of research remain key barriers.
The Road Ahead
To meet global TB eradication targets, WHO calls on all stakeholders to:
- Increase investment in research and innovation
- Foster cross-border collaboration
- Ensure equitable access to diagnostics, drugs, and treatment
- Enhance social and economic support systems for affected individuals and families
“The momentum is there, but we must ensure no one is left behind,” said Dr. Boehme, stressing the urgent need to turn knowledge and innovation into scalable, actionable solutions.
