TB programmes continue to devote most resources to diagnosing and treating disease, while comparatively less investment is directed towards preventing new infections and reducing risk factors.
Effective prevention includes tobacco control and cessation services, reducing harmful alcohol use, diabetes prevention and management, HIV prevention and treatment, nutritional support, TB preventive treatment for eligible populations. These interventions not only reduce TB but also improve overall population health.
8. Funding is often viewed too narrowly
Limited funding is frequently cited as the primary constraint to TB control. While additional investment is important, the issue is also how countries mobilize and allocate resources.
Domestic financing opportunities are often underutilized. Health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages can generate substantial revenue while simultaneously reducing major TB risk factors.
Example: Increasing tobacco excise taxes reduces smoking prevalence, a major driver of TB while generating additional government revenue that can be reinvested in TB prevention, primary healthcare, and universal health coverage. This creates a "double dividend" for public health.
9. Progress is not fast enough
Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, the decline in global TB incidence remains too slow to achieve the goals of the End TB Strategy. Without stronger prevention efforts, countries will continue treating millions of new cases each year instead of reducing the number of people who develop TB.
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