World Tuberculosis Day RIGHT’s Path to Ending TB

The burden of TB is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with fragile health systems. More than 80% of all TB cases occur in settings where access to diagnostic tools and treatment remains limited, making timely diagnosis and successful treatment difficult. When the critical window for treatment is missed, transmission can accelerate rapidly, leading to wider outbreaks and increased mortality.

TB is also a global concern because it is no longer confined to a small number of countries. OECD countries continue to report approximately 100,000 to 150,000 TB cases each year, and due to airborne nature, the disease has the potential to spread globally.

In addition, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which does not respond to standard treatment, has become increasingly widespread. According to the WHO, 390,000 people developed MDR-TB in 2024. However access to care remains even more limited, with only 42% of those affected receiving treatment. This is highlight the need to recognized TB not merely as a public health issue affecting certain regions or countries, but as a global health security challenge that requiring coordinated international action.