Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : August 6, 2025 6:59 PM IST
The World Health Organziation (WHO), on Tuesday, called for an urgent scale-up of research and innovation and collaboration to accelerate momentum towards ending tuberculosis (TB) in the WHO South-East Asia Region, accounting for the highest cases of death worldwide.
This initiative follows after the WHO confirms the findings of India's RATIONS study on the impact of nutrition on TB outcomes and incidence of the disease has contributed to the global guidance.
To build the momentum, experts, national TB programme managers, researchers, along with partners and members of civil society, began a three-day virtual workshop organized by WHO for 'Advancing research and Innovation to accelerate momentum towards ending TB in the WHO South-East Asia Region.'
"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, WHO South-East Asia Region, in her message.
Calling for urgent action, she said, "Achieving the ambitious targets in the WHO End TB Strategy requires collaboration to accelerate research and innovation. It requires the adoption and use of new tools, technologies, and drugs. Ensuring timely and equitable access to these innovations remains critical to achieving impacts at scale, leaving no one behind".
"Our progress is uneven. Research and innovation capacity is varied across the Region, and the results of these efforts are often siloed and unavailable for collaborative use. The rise in drug-resistant forms of TB remains very concerning," said Dr Boehme.
"Several ongoing innovations are attempting to reach out to marginalized and vulnerable groups through active case finding and providing affected families socio-economic support to mitigate catastrophic costs", said Dr Boehme.
Highlighting the importance of equity, she added, "It is incumbent to ensure equitable access to the benefits of research and innovation, including vaccines, medicines and diagnostics."
The WHO aims to reduce TB incidence by 80%, TB deaths by 90%, and eliminate catastrophic costs for TB-affected households by 2030.
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