The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a new policy brief to assist national tuberculosis (TB) programmes in prioritizing efforts and distributing resources more effectively. This updated guidance encourages the use of strategic, evidence-based, and people-focused methods to help speed up the progress toward eliminating TB. It offers a well-defined framework for setting priorities, highlighting the importance of transparency, inclusiveness, data-driven decisions, and accountability in building strong and fair TB planning strategies.

The policy brief also presents approaches to manage the effects of unexpected reductions in funding. These include enhancing the efficiency of available resources, incorporating TB care into systems focused on primary health care, and maintaining critical, life-saving services that have the greatest impact.

“Prioritization isn’t a one-time task – it’s a guiding tool that helps countries navigate changing health challenges, financial shifts, and transforming health systems,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs. “This policy brief provides national TB programmes with the resources needed to act with knowledge, fairness and effectiveness.”

Establishing clear priorities is essential in health planning; it supports both the mobilization of resources and the strategic allocation of funding to ensure maximum programme effectiveness. In a world with limited resources and increasing health demands, prioritization plays a vital role in preserving and growing TB services.

Although significant progress has been made in TB prevention and treatment, the disease remains a major global health threat. In 2024, worldwide spending on TB reached only US$ 5.9 billion – just 27% of the US$ 22 billion required each year until 2027 to achieve the goals set at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB. Planned reductions in foreign aid beginning in 2025 present a serious risk. Research suggests that such cutbacks could lead to approximately 2 million additional deaths and 10 million more TB cases between 2025 and 2035.

The WHO remains committed to supporting knowledge exchange among countries and sharing successful strategies for setting priorities in TB programming.